Sony Magazine says 'PSP style phone in the works'

by Andrew Yoon { Feb 15th 2008 at 6:30PM }

You'd think something named "Sony Magazine" would know a thing or two about what's going on with Sony. But they oh-so-casually appear to reference "a new PSP-style phone" in the latest issue. It doesn't go into too many details, but suggests that "it could be in the shops as early as February." That seems unlikely, considering we haven't heard a peep from Sony regarding the matter, and it wasn't showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. Phones are electronics for consumers, right?

But this isn't the first time we've heard of the so-called PSP phone. So many rumors have rocked the web that we feel like it's not a question of it, but rather a question of when.

[Via Engadget]

Tags: phone, rumor, sony-magazine

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Barndo111 @ Feb 15th 2008 8:01PM

I'm very confused by the fact that the story says, "...apparently in development."

I did a little more digging with the story, "apparently" Sony Ericsson have a phone coming that is gaming oriented although not a PSP branded device. I'm guessing that it might even have an XMB like the one show at last year's GDC. It'll most likely at best have gaming abilities comparable to Nokia's N-Gage platform (source: my opinion). It may also have Wii-like functions. (Yawn.Source of yawn: my opinion.)

I agree with you Andrew, wouldn't a "Sony" magazine know whether this was "for sure" happening instead of "apparently?"

If this ever DOES happen, I hope to God it doesn't look like the one from that strange patent submission you linked to above. I really appreciated the sliding-iphone looking version you had shown a few weeks back.

Also, I must suck at researching; I couldn't find a scan of that entire article. Anyone know where to find that?

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/28815/Sony-Ericsson-to-launch-games-phone-in-Feb

Lars @ Feb 19th 2008 4:35PM

I find it odd that people expect all the collective operations under Sony's name to know what the rest are doing all the time. Sony-Ericsson, Sony-BMG, SCE, etc are all quite separate operations which are just unified under the Sony brand (and bankroll).

Imagine it this way: you tell a friend "apparently my brother got engaged last week." And your friend says "HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE INSTANT IT HAPPENED?!?! YOU'RE BOTH SMITHS!"

Kspraydad @ Feb 15th 2008 8:15PM

Did SONY not say that HOME would have elements that were going to be useable on a mobile phone? I'd say that any Playstation branded SE phone would likely infer that type of interoperability (perhaps remote play of media too) but not necessarily games.

Kspraydad @ Feb 15th 2008 8:15PM

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Feb 16th 2008 1:59PM

well you do have a point. and they say that the release date is scheduled for February. maybe its some kind of slip up that proves that Sony will unleash a Home Public Beta at GDC next week along with a new phone that can tap into the service.

just a thought. im just ready for fireworks at GDC next week. ill be attached to my laptop and smartphone all week lol.

Macha88 @ Feb 15th 2008 8:36PM

Kspraydad @ Feb 15th 2008 10:12PM

Glass houses man.

linebeginstoblur @ Feb 15th 2008 10:08PM

I want to know more. Is it a phone that looks like the PSP that may play games too? Or is it possibly a PSP2 that has more advanced games and everything, and instead of just offering Skype, will also have full phone features?

I guess my question is what the emphasis of the product will be. I'd love it if they can just integrate phone features into what will still be primarily a gaming system.

merc25 @ Feb 15th 2008 10:12PM

He[Kaz] was using it on a non-"playstation branded phone" though. A PSP phone might be seen in 2009, but more likely 2010.

dericb11 @ Feb 15th 2008 11:22PM

Honestly this is possible with the PC PSN store since you D/L game files and don't need UMD to play them. So is it being made I think so and will it work I think so.

Barndo111 @ Feb 16th 2008 2:22AM

Well, that and just to take a guess....I don't see a PSP"2" until they can incorporate cellphone capabilities. It just makes SO much sense. But how do you make a device that works as a cell phone/PSP and has the ability to play UMD's? There is SO much that has to happen for something like this to happen.

I wouldn't expect a PSPhone for a few years off. Don't hold your breath.

Alien @ Feb 16th 2008 6:09AM

It will probably be an advanced gaming capable phone , nothing similar to the PSPs capabilitys ...

mureth @ Feb 16th 2008 10:00AM

no offence but it shoulds like sony are getting desprate for money so they turn the consold into a phone. i wouldn't buy it

Kspraydad @ Feb 16th 2008 1:37PM

Um...what?

So a consumer electronics company with a successful brand name only broadens that name when they are 'desperate' for money?

Where did you take your business management classes again?

Michael K. @ Feb 16th 2008 12:07PM

I love sony's playstation line, but I'm more loyal to apple, so I'll stick with my iPhone.

Lars @ Feb 19th 2008 4:45PM

I can't justify spending over 100 bucks on a phone, let alone $500.

Now if it had all of the PSP capabilities --plus more-- and at least 30GB of storage and nothing was locked out, then I might be tempted to spend $300ish.

But if it's another iPhone, count me out. I'm not into gimmicks that drain my wallet constantly which I hardly ever use except for archaic text-messaging (are we still in the '90s here?) which I only use because friends of mine still cling to that practice.