New Playstation Can Double As Phone

The consumer electronics giant Sony has announced a new version of its Playstation Portable handheld games console that can be used as a telephone, to go on sale in Europe and the United States in mid- October.

The Playstation Portable 3000, which has been the subject of speculation on technology Web sites, will have a built-in microphone and a new screen that has more colors and is better suited for use outdoors, Sony said at a video games convention in Leipzig on Wednesday. The PSP already supports the software program Skype, which enables users to make free telephone calls over the Internet, but the new PSP, with a built-in microphone, will make the process easier, Sony says.

“We believe that this will establish the PSP as a viable communication device,” said David Reeves, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

The PSP 3000 will retail for euro 199, or $293, compared with euro 169 for the current slim version of the PSP, which will remain on sale.

Sony also said it would launch a version of its flagship Playstation 3 console with a 160 gigabyte hard drive to store more downloaded content and video, to retail for euro 449 on Oct. 31, including euro 70 credit for downloads.

A version of the PS3 with an 80 gigabyte hard drive will go on sale for euro 399 later in August, Sony said.

Music videos streamed over the Internet would soon be available free for the PS3, while a music and video download service modeled on its U.S. version should be available across Europe by the third quarter of 2009, the company added.

Originally published by Reuters.

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