Posted May 23, 2007 at 02:50AM by Victor B. Listed in: PSP, Mobile Tags: Sony, SCEE, British Telecommunications
Ó

The PSP, a Phone? - Image 1


British Telecommunications (BT) and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) have signed a deal that will add new functions to the PSP, turning it into a phone of sorts.

The four-year contract includes the addition of "wireless broadband communications functions, including high quality handheld video calls, voice calls and messaging." Now, BT will offer the service first in the UK, though there's no word yet on how it'll actually work, but it's an intriguing development for the PlayStation Portable (PSP).

Said Steve Andrews, BT's chief of mobility and convergence,

The combination of SCEE and BT working together is a natural fit. Sony is a world-class company producing some of the world’s most innovative electronic devices and BT is at the forefront of communications with the 21CN global platform... With over 8 million PSPs shipped across Europe, we are very excited by the opportunity to give customers a whole new communications experience, connecting and seeing friends across the world through BT’s technology.


Will we be seeing a revolution of this sort in America and Japan? We certainly hope so.


[Via BT Media Centre] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

Bookmark / Find this article on:


32 Comments


Sort by:
   by sk8king (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » W00T FIRST POSTER!

this sounds great, the PSP can do anything

   by busta (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » 4.0??

is this a glimpse of a new firmware update

   by billy (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » PSP is getting cooler everyday

Wow, the psp is really coming into its own element. Glad I bought one and definitely enjoying it.

   by sunami88 (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » With what space?

Their kinda running out of Flash0 space aren't they? This would be really really cool, but it would need to be on a UMD or something wouldn't it? Not really convenient to pop in a UMD every time you wanna take/make a call.

   by Default (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » With what space?

Their kinda running out of Flash0 space aren't they? This would be really really cool, but it would need to be on a UMD or something wouldn't it? Not really convenient to pop in a UMD every time you wanna take/make a call.

   by not (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » There's space if you don't run CF

The space issue is only with custom firmware. There's still some left with the Sony ones. Also, don't expect this to be anything but wifi voip phone capabilties unless of course they find a way to make a sim card reader/cell antenna device that plugs into the usb port.


   Re: Wicked_Insider - 2007-05-23
 » here we go...

Almost, Its a SIM Pro Duo Card with it's own
antenna built right in. The SIM card/pro duo
will also store about 256MB of extra data at
first. And yes there is a software UMD with an
update PBP. The PSP usb camera will be the
video source, PAL or NTFC depending on your
area will be supported.
   by Wicked_Insider - 2007-05-23
 » ...

I've been saying that this has been comeing for a while now.
Yet get nothing but crickets chirping from the blog posters.

Tipical I guess.

This project will open up a whole new dimension to the PSP
as an everyday device. Look forward to more unannounced
developments from SONY to be revealed. This is just one of
many more exciting news releases to come.


   Re: Advertising -


   Re: Wicked_Insider (Unregistered) - 2007-05-25
 » to:ooooooooooooooooooookkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

The PSP CAM has a MIC built into it.
   by ooooooooooookkkkkkkkkk (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » this is gonna turn out wierd

the psp has no microphone!!! they are probably gonna come out with some new camera with broadband functions, or a new psp altogether. either way, its gonna be expensive and wont work with OE b/c no downgrade or no flash space


   Re: Bsizzel (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » microphone

the PSP doesn't come with a built in microphone.. but I have one that i use to talk to people on SOCOM. Maybe they'll make that compatible with it.
   by J (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » yay

somethings actually coming to UK first woooo

   by kuraudo-sama (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » Cool

Yeah,Cool

   by 3nCoRe (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » Cool...

It would be a wonderful idea... if it weren't being put out in the UK first. Well, I guess Sony has to keep their Guinea Pigs somewhere... *cough*UK*cough*


   Re: somedude (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » lol

thats a messed up thing to say. but they gotta test it somewhere. And also they are redesigning the psp so it might be part of that one. never know

   Re: ... (Unregistered) - 2007-05-24
 » ...

So if you're calling the UK a country of guinea pigs because of this one thing, then you do realise that the US have been guinea pigs for even longer?
   by Jarf (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » My hope

is that the hardware they release with this thing is snatched up by us users and some nice voip homebrew is developed releasing us from BT's grasp.

Skype on the PSP would be glorious because no doubt if BT is the only company and the only competition then they will make us pay.

   by Advertising -
   by steven (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » CHOTTO SHOT/GO!CAM

WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY
WE CAN USE THE PSP CAMERA!! YAY

   by martin (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » yeah!!!!

this will kill the ds

   by sigh (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » hell yea!

woo ! I hope it cums to the U.S.

   by yeah it will (Unregistered) - 2007-05-23
 » the psp already

the psp already owns the ds,dont u know that???stupid ppl with their stupid mind wasting their money on crap like the wii and ds and not on ps3 or psp>


   Re: Jarf (Unregistered) - 2007-05-24
 » What?

Yeah the PSP beats the DS but only because of the homebrew scene.

But come on, the PS3? That steaming pile of overpriced ***** has nothing on the Nintendo Wii.

   Re: god0fgod - 2007-05-24
 » Disagree and agree

DS is good but PSP is better. You can;t say the PS3 is overpriced. It cost less to buy than it does to make.

   Re: ... (Unregistered) - 2007-05-24
 » ...

He didn't say the PSP was worse, but you can't deny that the DS is still competition for it. He said this will kill the DS altogether, not make the PSP rise above it.
   by Sean (Unregistered) - 2007-05-24
 » More info

There's some more info on the BBC news website about this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6683231.stm

It includes a video and an interview with a BT person.

And yes it looks like they are using the standard PSP camera (with built in Mic in it) and BT is delevopling the VOIP software (they already provide a PC softphone for their BT Broadband Talk product)

   by Jan-Diederik (Unregistered) - 2007-05-24
 » Prolly no skype then

This will probably mean that the potential skype for PSP has been cancelled. No way that BT would allow

   by Silver-Tiger - 2007-05-24
 » plz

I hope this will also come to GERMANY.

If it does, I'm pretty sure T-Com germany will porvide this.


   Re: Advertising -


   Re: Silver-Tiger - 2007-05-24
 » sry

sorry my bad. porvide + provide
   by Jan-Diederik (Unregistered) - 2007-05-24
 » Prolly no skype then

This will probably mean that the potential skype for PSP has been cancelled. No way that BT would go through with this deal if you'd be abled to call your friends for free half a year later.
Bummer.

   by Dodo - 2007-05-24
 » ..

This is great. Net calling/video conferencing via PSP would be awesome, but they better keep it affordable.

PSP can do so many things! It totally kicks DS's ass!

   by na2ru1 (Unregistered) - 2007-05-24
 » still cant use

to its full potential. Until i know wot location free playas all bout.........im 20 yes i shud no

   by cali-cold (Unregistered) - 2007-05-24
 » sweet

this is cool but when it comes to the us i hope that theres no huge monthly fee to use it, i am willing to pay my normal cell phone bill if it replaces my cell permenantly.



Add QJ.NET
Add to My Yahoo!
Google Reader Subscribe with Bloglines
Add  to your Kinja digest Subscribe in NewsGator Online
Subscribe with Pluck RSS reader Add 'www.qj.net' to Newsburst from CNET News.com
Subscribe with SearchFox RSS del.icio.us www.qj.net
Add to Technorati Favorite! Add to My AOL
furl! it Stumble for Treehugger!