Is Sony planning a PSP phone?

Jennifer Guevin | Jun 29, 2009

The newest version of Sony's PlayStation Portable isn't even on sale yet, but the company is already looking ahead to what's next, according to Reuters.

The electronics giant is looking into making a combination gadget that would meld its PSP gaming system with the cell phones made by Sony Ericsson, its joint-venture Swedish electronics maker Ericsson, according to Reuters, which cited the Nikkei business daily.

Sony reportedly plans to put together a team as early as July to begin development of the new gadget. Sony no doubt has its eye on Apple's iPhone, which is already popular with consumers and is now getting more serious attention from game developers as a platform for their games.

This isn't the first time rumors of this nature have circulated. In 2007, Sony raised eyebrows with a patent filing that appeared to show a PSP-like device with phone capabilities, and British Telecom said it was working with the company to bring voice and video chat to the PSP.

In the meantime, Sony continues to work on its portable gaming device. The PSPgo, which was unveiled at the E3 gaming conference, is smaller than its predecessors and has a slide-up screen. It will go on sale in the US come October 1 for US$249.

Via CNET Crave

Filed under: Mobile Phones, Music & Play
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Devlin

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Devlin says...
It'll be interesting to see how Sony develops the device seeing as it will definitely be a challenge figuring how the right formfactor and size so as to appeal to gamers. Too small without adequate hard buttons and it won't make it past its first generation.

I'm hoping they takes cues from the Xperia but instead of a full Qwerty keyboard it'll have a control deck. Have a capacitive touchscreen that swivels up, again like the X1, so the device retains its utility even when used as a phone. As for the much requested second thumbstick, I guess Sony didn't include it in the Go for the sake of backwards compability. I would guess that the same could be said for the PSP phone.

If anyone can do it I know Sony can. Let's just hope they continue with their tradition of well-designed products.

Jun 29, 2009 16:44

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azafirster

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azafirster says...
If this ever happens, trust me, it will be selling like hotcakes. Sony needs to dev this quick cos its late. Nokia and apple has got their share of this market. Sony can still capitalise on their PSP and PS3 fan base to get the demand for this kind of Device early on, apple and Nokia hasn't gotten this this game + handphone segment in its grasp yet, seeing that most of the games for iphone and N-Gage (nokia) is pretty lame. Better do something soon before nintendo gets any bright idea and start teaming up with nokia, and we end up with a franken phone + nintendo DSi mash-up (hmm... that does sound appealing).

Jun 30, 2009 10:47

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gsr5867

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gsr5867 says...
I don't think it will come any time soon. Sony is slow when it comes to this. As I read in a magazine: why didn't Sony invent the ipod when they are the pioneers of the famous Walkman. I'm pretty disappointed that the Psp Go isn't even touchscreen. Hardly any significant improvement over the previous model, still no camera unlike the Nintendo and the form factor is debatable for serious gamers. UMD scrapping long overdue. Psp owners need not upgrade.

Psp phone... well we can keep on dreaming for a while and wait for Sony to wake up!

Jul 05, 2009 12:52

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