UK PSPs mobile-izing

New deal between UK telecom company BT and electronics giant Sony will bring video calls and more to the handheld.

First the PlayStation Portable became a camera, and now Sony has announced that it will also become a mobile phone.

A four-year deal between Sony and UK-based telecom company BT will enable wireless broadband communications on the PSP, which will mean users can use their handheld to make "high-quality" video calls and voice calls, and send text messages.

The partnership will integrate BT broadband video and voice "softphone" products into the PSP. Over the following months, features will also be added to enable calls and messages to PCs, fixed lines, and mobiles.

Sony said it is also working with BT and other communication providers to bring the service to France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. The service will first be rolled out in the UK.

SCEE president David Reeves commented, "The opportunity to combine our market-leading expertise with BT's knowledge in communications opens up many possibilities, and we look forward to bringing many exciting communication functions to PSP fans."

94 Comments

  • dragonballM8

    Posted Oct 23, 2007 3:10 pm PT

    this is gonna be AWSOME! i just dont like the fact we have to buy another psp because my parents might not have money DAMN! IREALY WANT IT THOUGH SO BADLY!

  • theKSMM

    Posted Jun 10, 2007 11:38 pm PT

    Wow, this is wild. While I doubt that anybody is going to abandon his cellular phone for this gadgetry, I wish I had the chance to try it out just to see how well it works.

    Whatever the case, I think that we can all safely say that two years ago, nobody imagined that the PSP would be able to do this!

  • maynza

    Posted May 30, 2007 2:05 am PT

    This is awsome! PSP is becoming a phone, technology is getting so cool these days

  • Paultiscali

    Posted May 29, 2007 5:50 am PT

    the psp is now a mobile, games, camera, movies and music device Thought people wanted a handheld games console and not a multi device

  • death1505921

    Posted May 27, 2007 1:44 pm PT

    WHy would you want this lol? Have they not seen the size of the psp compared to current phones lol?

  • Retro_Man

    Posted May 26, 2007 11:20 am PT

    Oh nice. If only i was on BT. So they've managed to alienate everyone in the UK who doesn't like BT's crummy service or prices.

  • sir_pickle

    Posted May 26, 2007 9:36 am PT

    I knew the psp will became a phone!

  • Bigboss232

    Posted May 25, 2007 7:55 am PT

    its just an add on no gimmick look at the ds and its addons and the touch screen its not a gimmick its an addon if you dont like it dont buy it and stop crying stupid fanboys cry when a company tries to better something when psp store comes out you all wil be there to whine and complain wont you.

  • lucky-coins

    Posted May 25, 2007 4:06 am PT

    @Grimbee

    You and your pointless posts can make me lol anyday it's unbelievable
    I am casting wrong kinds of "stones" from wrong kinds of "what"? Whatever the point you wanted to bring out here I do not really comprehend.

    "Are you contradicting yourself AGAIN? You say you don't have time to read through everyones posts... but have time to read my "blocks of text".... hmmmmm..... HMMMM...."

    Not really. I just happened to see your post more than three times in a row stating the same BS over and over. I don't flip pages when I look at a board, I just quick scan available comments with my eyes as I scroll. In addition I only quick read all posts on the first page on boards in 30-90 seconds depending, sometimes reflecting on good and bad post for a while.

    "You would just flat out say "how dare you grimbee! how dare you! I mean what I say I tell you! Dissapear from these topics with your "points of view" because they cast doubt to everything that I believe"."

    Seriously, I just said you don't have to repeat B*llSh*t. It's annoying for people who are REALLY interested about the PSP. People who just go to a board and bash, hate, boast and advertise shouldn't be allowed to spam the topic.

    "Dude, just because someone doesn't like this idea - you don't have to go around posting WHY someone would post here. And as for the comment about working and time-off, thats my business not yours. And a nice way to "be ashamed" of how kids behave... what.... so you are ashamed that someone dissagrees with you?
    PAH!"

    Now you're mixing things up badly. It really is your business, however I don't like when people come and say:

    "I just bought 6 PSPs and it just sucks!!!11!"

    It really makes you wonder what kind of arrogant soul is behind all this misery, and that's why I said that I'm ashamed of spoiled brats who don't even appreciate what they get. So if I use your turned upside-down translation of that sentence I would say that: I'm not ashamed you disagree, I'm just ashamed that your comments doesn't disagree with my opinions correctly to put it simple.

    Well, people teaming up on you is what you usually get for being narrow-minded and rude. Why don't you learn from others while you're doing your "thing", perhaps you can gain some more support by being reasonable and not go into every board just to spam your: "I-just-hate-this-news-and-everyone-should-agree-
    with-me-"BS.

    You should realize that you're the origin of this tiresome cycle by posting huge towers and chains of post in the first place, resulting in others having to negate every of your single points, which purpose made by you just exists to anger people who really are fans of the subject. Even worse, you repeat your opinions through different forms in posts, it's like hearing a kid whine about eating broccoli for dinner.

    And it is not going to stop until you realize what makes other people write negative response to your activity on the boards. We all want a good community, start by lowering your tone of voice, stop complaining over every single good thing that happens in this world and be more open for others opinions and swallow the pride for once.

    Still I wish you good luck, because that plane of yours is still struggling to get up in high altitude.

  • GrimBee

    Posted May 25, 2007 1:53 am PT

    lol, HXCDEW... you just contradicted yourself by posting more than one post and commenting on other peoples points of view... (how irritating).

    And lucky-coin(s).... MY tower of text? looks like you are casting the wrong kinds of stones from the wrong kinds of houses.... AND - another one - "Further advice is to not state you opinion like it was the one and only truth for everyone."...

    What the heck does that mean? Are you contradicting yourself AGAIN? You say you don't have time to read through everyones posts... but have time to read my "blocks of text".... hmmmmm..... HMMMM....

    You reply to me in some moses sort of way, parting your way through my text with your biased facts. If I say "I don't like the psp at the moment, and this phone idea shows how concentrating on non-games makes the psp more of a non-games machine"...

    You would just flat out say "how dare you grimbee! how dare you! I mean what I say I tell you! Dissapear from these topics with your "points of view" because they cast doubt to everything that I believe".

    Dude, just because someone doesn't like this idea - you don't have to go around posting WHY someone would post here. And as for the comment about working and time-off, thats my business not yours. And a nice way to "be ashamed" of how kids behave... what.... so you are ashamed that someone dissagrees with you?
    PAH!

    Everyone in entitled to an opinion, however, two of you now spend your time trying to find faults in me, yet in the process HXCDEW says im in the wrong for posting more than one post about similar things, yet he does it right after he says it...

    and then you lucky-coins, you say I write too much (hence - wall of text) by posting, get this ; a giant wall of text.

    This baffle is too confusing. Can't someone just NOT like this idea? Or am I the martyr for everyone here who doesn't like it! sheesh...

  • HXCDEW

    Posted May 25, 2007 1:21 am PT

    Some of you idiots don't even know what this technology is all about. Simcard?! Have you heard of VOIP? Google it!

    I think it's a great move by Sony and BT. Wifi hotspots are everywhere, at least in London where I'm from. Eventually BT will sell the software to telecoms companies in other countries so many more can use it.

    Having this communications functionality on a PSP means hopefully I don't have to pay expensive rates on my mobile. Why should I, if I can do it for a similar or lower price (VOIP is usually cheaper), on PSP's big screen? It's not like you HAVE TO use this feature. You can choose to not buy the PSP camera or BT software. It's just another unique addition to PSP's functionality.

    PSP is an amazing device. I don't know why this feature should bother you if you don't care about its uses! This blatant bias and hate towards PSP is really getting pathetic. PSP is better. Get over it!

  • lucky-coins

    Posted May 24, 2007 6:24 pm PT

    @Grimbee

    Why am I not surprised? As usual you bring a huge eiffel tower of text that has no meaning to it whatsoever. Didn't I tell you to grow some trees of wisdom before getting back in action? Your bias is barely a challenge by any real gamers standards.

    By optional I meant that using the PSP as a phone is for each ones own. You don't have to make PSP a phone if you don't want to, obviously.

    However it amazes me that you can afford four PSPs(inculding the hacked one) and yet you have time to write huge blocks of texts dedicated to something you don't even like each and every day while you should actually be busy working with that overpaid job of yours.

    Further advice is to not state you opinion like it was the one and only truth for everyone. You say it's not cool? Then just say it once and we will know. You don't have to repeat yourself in order to voice a decent opinion.

    You bought 4 PSPs and call it a waste of a console? I know people in areas where PSPs are a unaffordable luxury, and right now you remind me of why I'm ashamed of how kids in the west nowdays have come to behave.

    Mishimosu or whoever.. I didn't see his/her opinions because I on the other hand don't have time to flap through pages and pages of opinions on one single comment board, usually with the regular bias.
    Besides I don't really care.

    I am also willing to bet that those features regarding msn and ps3 will soon follow in an update. You're too quick on the trigger for your own good.

    "Check out sony phone sales to psp sales. Phone sales are much better because they perfect what that unit does.

    Sony should, imo, concentrate on the games, battery life (Etc) rather than introducing a pretty worthless gimmik like this!"

    Perfect in what it does.. Well you're wrong. Phones are originally used to call other people, not taking pictures, playing games, surfing the net, watching videos. You're complaining on the PSP, which is actually better suited for a multimedia device than the mobile phone. If you're saying that PSP shouldn't try to be everything, then you should say the same for a mobile phone too. Multimedia features are gradually becoming implemented in almost all handheld devices nowdays, and it's not really making the console that much more expensive. It just makes it more practical and compatible to use.

    Obviously you don't think that developers will use this in their games at all. If nintendo came up with this idea you'd be saying otherwise.

    Comparing sales with a game handheld and a mobile phone is not reasonable because the products targets two different kinds of consumers, the camera is just an addition and the PSP isn't pocketsize enough for your average joe to make it in the same market.
    Sony Ericsson has been on the market much longer than the PSP and is one of the top leading brands in mobile technology. In addition sony has done a much more heavier marketing campaign with sony ericsson than with the PSP. So it does not have anything to do with sony ericsson phones being completely perfect in what it does.

    *Sigh* I guess some things never changes, when sony is on top of the world you'd pretend you didn't bash around sony because you thought M and N needed you
    Good luck with your career in bashing sony, you're almost at the top.

  • GunGriffin

    Posted May 24, 2007 6:18 pm PT

    I'm not to thrilled that they are going to charge you for E-mails and textmessiges. My Wii can send E-mails for free anywhere I wan't to send them, and my Xbox360 can textmessage anyone I wan't to for free. This dose not make me happy with joy, but it dose not make me mad eathier. I mean when is Sony going to give the PSP owners what they realy want? A PSP store, and Network that can be accesed without the need for a $600.00 PS3.

  • GrimBee

    Posted May 24, 2007 10:26 am PT

    lucky-coin... tsk tsk tsk... I thought you had better guts than to challenge the mighty grimbee...

    "It's free, and it's optional. No one is telling you to buy the camera nor the PSP."

    Its optional, as is everything on gamespot that is in the news. Buying a console is optional, even...
    The camera isn't free, neither is a bt broadband talk contract...

    And I am bothered by this because I previously owned three psp's (four if you count the hacked one) and sold them because there simply wasn't enough cool stuff as I hoped.
    And this is NOT it.

    Firstly, here are my opinions (as everyone is entitled to those right lucky-coin?) to add -

    I just can't imagine the psp as a phone, firstly you will have to leave it exposed on the table (I never did that with mine, I couldn't stand even one fingerprint on it).

    Next, talkting to the mic on the camera on the psp... wouldn't that create unwanted spit, mouth oder and/or residue from talking right to the screen?

    Mishimotsu has the same kinda points as me, lucky-coin, aim yourself at someone else I have perfectly valid points for why I don't like this news - imo, its a waste of a console.
    If this was on the DS, it would be a bit pointless (but the battery life would be its plus point).

    "How can you who dislike sony". I disslike the fact that Sony make a psp into some sort of webcam with its own screen.

    What I would like instead is the ability to slap the camera into the psp, plug into usb port and then have a video conversation with someone over msn or something...

    Or at least having a video conversation with someone whilst playing a ps3 though the ps3 network. Keeping the psp in the games ideology is something I like, but using this as a phone, when sony already make awesome phones...

    It gives the user this option - do you want a handy mp3 phone for £200 which takes nifty pics of 2megapixels and has awesome battery life and nice to fit in your pocket...

    OR, do you want a big old psp with scratchable screen, low battery (etc etc)... for the price of a psp, camera, bt broadband talk subscription - I would rather a sonyerricson phone.

    Check out sony phone sales to psp sales. Phone sales are much better because they perfect what that unit does.

    Sony should, imo, concentrate on the games, battery life (Etc) rather than introducing a pretty worthless gimmik like this!

  • Mishimotsu

    Posted May 24, 2007 7:09 am PT

    this is gonna be pretty dang crap in my opinion

    1 : hows the fact it cant have a sim card gonna work?... altho i guess voip...
    2 : the battery life of a psp is 4 hours reguardless of what your doin, and even less if your network switch is on (which no doubt it will have to be)
    3 : its huge compared to a phone, and i have a n93 so my phone is pretty dang huge, but tiny compared to a psp

    can sony clutch at any more straws to gain sales... (and im sayin all of this and i love playstations [not a fanboy]) sony have yet to impress me for a long time

    POOR SHOUT SONY!

  • chrisdojo

    Posted May 24, 2007 6:27 am PT

    meh... more gimicks. i just want to play games.

  • G_W_X

    Posted May 24, 2007 6:10 am PT

    @SirNicoli nice.
    SONY = THE FUTURE

    Sony can = "the future" all they want for turning their PSP into somtinng thats already being done with a MOBILE PHONE!!!!!

    But the FUTURE OF GAMING belongs to the original daddy of gaming, that is NINTENDO!!!

  • Pastehunter

    Posted May 24, 2007 5:14 am PT

    Finally , I was waiting for this for a long time ... now bring this feature worldwide allready

  • 0201693

    Posted May 24, 2007 5:05 am PT

    It's always good to get new features on a system anyways, if it sucks then people won't use it lol. I'm not convinced that there isn't going to be some cost involved somewhere, since BT & free rarely appear in the same sentence, at least in the UK anyway lol

    And the battery issue, regardless how amazing the video stream service is, if it eats up the battery it won't matter, people will stop using it. However streaming services tend to be low resolution video so its not like it is gonna take up same battery as a umd movie or mpeg4 movie on a memory stick so it may end up working out.

    If it does end up being free and low battery consumption than it will be useful.

  • lucky-coins

    Posted May 24, 2007 2:28 am PT

    @Grimbee

    Stop pretending to be something useful and grow up.
    First of all quit posting multiple opinions on the same thing on one board, once is enough for everyone to hear you don't like sony and 75% of what you say is mostly biased.

    Secondly, I'm willing to bet that sony will have a feature which allows you to turn of the phone when playing a game.

    It's a free feature which allows other users to communicate. This does not in any way show that sony is out of ideas, they just make it more attractive for developers who want to implement a camera feature in their games, which in turn leads to creative gaming. Sony doesn't make all the games mind you.

    Also, you are suggesting that people should buy another phone for a higher price and lower video quality that'll have to stretch to fit the PSP screen?

    Just admit it already, sony is an excellent company that provides quality. And quit being mad because they provide gamers good features.
    It's free, and it's optional. No one is telling you to buy the camera nor the PSP.
    How can you who dislike sony immense yourself in a topic like this? We all know too well. Just grow up already.

  • plaguelord1

    Posted May 24, 2007 2:10 am PT

    firstly how cool i cant wait for this i was thinking about getting rid of my ds for a psp and this plus the fact there hasnt been any ds game i like since metroid i liked has made my mind up psp it is and secondly to diablobasher thats a bit pointless cause aren't blue ray region coded? meaning you'd have to get all you games from the us if i am wrong please warn me and ill get a ps3 that way

  • diablobasher

    Posted May 23, 2007 11:08 pm PT

    FallenOneX:

    I can get a PS3 shipped to my house from america CHEAPER than i could walk into a shop and buy one here. So yeah, not so much delayed that we were willing to pay import prices, as crapped on.

  • FallenOneX

    Posted May 23, 2007 10:56 pm PT

    A WORD TO SONY:

    Using the regions you pretty much crapped on in the past as test markets, isn't that great of an idea. I shouldn't say crapped on, more like delayed the hell out of releases so bad that they were willing to pay import prices to get them.

  • SirNicoli

    Posted May 23, 2007 10:25 pm PT

    nice.
    SONY = THE FUTURE

  • fonzieahmed

    Posted May 23, 2007 7:57 pm PT

    this could be quite cool if the service works out well.

  • G_W_X

    Posted May 23, 2007 6:54 pm PT

    Besides the fact that Nintendo did this in (japan only) with a frigin GBA(Gameboy Advanced)
    And besides the fact that the DS can do this easily with technical implimentations....
    ...

    Do I AS A GAMER REALLY WANT MY PORTABLE TO BECOME A MOBILE VIDEOPHONE?

    Whats wrong with taking your gaming device and doing some quality gaming for once and forget everything else.

  • protek_0813

    Posted May 23, 2007 6:48 pm PT

    sounds interesting....

  • Pete5506

    Posted May 23, 2007 5:56 pm PT

    Thats cool but I don't live in the UK

  • GrimBee

    Posted May 23, 2007 5:49 pm PT

    Imagine playing something like Silent Hill on the psp - and then suddenly BRRRIIIINNG the phone rings right infront of your face...

  • FstBrk342

    Posted May 23, 2007 5:35 pm PT

    haha this just reminds me of a pic in an issue PSM during the jp psp launch where it showed one of the editors 'side talking' witht the psp who knew it would one day be realized? and i dont think this will help sony win in the handheld market because most of the people with handhelds are usually little kids. so usually the parent will buy it and since nintendo is better known in this market and the DS is cheaper, its a more easy buy. even so i still love my psp and am waiting for GoW, crisis core and others in the mean time

  • Chinafun

    Posted May 23, 2007 5:32 pm PT

    great so are they going to be any different from the original PSPs longer battery life or what is it still going to be able play game then able to pause it when the phone rings will it have other functioning ablilties

  • pompomboy

    Posted May 23, 2007 5:29 pm PT

    haters just hate

  • smoothn00dle

    Posted May 23, 2007 5:19 pm PT

    @cube-gage
    We are talking about free Wi-Fi phone. N-gage is pay GSM mobile phone. I think N-gage's problem was the hardware design. Niko make great phone but they don't know how to make a great mobile console. Big N did it with DS and Sony with PSP which is nothing like a mobile phone.

  • GrimBee

    Posted May 23, 2007 4:48 pm PT

    How will this work?? I mean, battery life is terrible for multiple functions. Byt the time you watch half of a movie, once you get a call you will only have about 20mins left to do stuff before you recharge..

    And are the speakers loud enough to let off a loud ringtone? Also - I would hate to leave my old psp sitting on a desk for all to scratch as its used as a phone.

    This deal only shows that the psp is running out of ideas, and is looking for a workaround around the nintendo ds. If it can't battle it head on, its got to go at it another way.

    Instead of releasing games, getting the psp redesigned (etc) - its concentrating on existing by other means... and turning it into a communications device with a battery life of 3 hours?

    All Sony needed to do was strike a deal with BT to have sonyerricson phones work as broadband phones... It will certainly be better than a psp.

    Just asthetically - think about it - the psp has to be held with two hands (its too big and heavy for most people to hold with one hand for a certain length of time). MSN (etc) is great because you can have your hands free to browse the net, show your friends funny links and things. A phone is great because you can do other things like cooking whilst talking.

    With a psp you have to have two hands on it to talk to someone - talk about hands NOT free...
    A very silly idea.

    Just wait until the iphone comes out, this will knock this idea for six.

  • Agreb91

    Posted May 23, 2007 4:34 pm PT

    This would be so cool if this would be brought to the US, but it would be nearly impossible due to all the different phone companies.

  • cube-gage

    Posted May 23, 2007 4:22 pm PT

    the n-gage was a great multimedia device. people that didnt own one always diss on it. it had some great games (all cracked), and all the features of a s60 smart phone such as emulators. really great little device

  • Baroncx

    Posted May 23, 2007 3:52 pm PT

    cool idea, but psp burns through battery too quick.

  • AngelCage

    Posted May 23, 2007 3:34 pm PT

    Why every kid that DON'T OWN a PSP are writing the "MORE GAMES SONY" line?

    The PSP has a Pretty good collection of games with high rates (8+) on sale, and a lot more are in work

    The news: indifferent about it, not because i don't like but cause i don´t live in any of these countries.

  • StarOceaner

    Posted May 23, 2007 3:32 pm PT

    That's good but I agree with Renegade. It would totally suck if the PSP became another N-Gage.

  • ABISPY

    Posted May 23, 2007 3:30 pm PT

    huh psp now can be mobile phone too !? , what psp cant do ?

  • Renegade194

    Posted May 23, 2007 3:28 pm PT

    Sony is messing up with the handheld market. I had a PSP and hated it because it had no games at all. I now have a DS and love it. I guess its bigger in the UK, than here in the US. A phone? I don't like it anyway because it reminds me of the N-Gage.

  • darknferno12

    Posted May 23, 2007 3:18 pm PT

    Wow is their anything the PSP can't do and as a matter of fact the PSP is walking my dog right now.

  • coolasj19

    Posted May 23, 2007 3:11 pm PT

    i dont like this. it reminds me of the n-gage

  • Digitised

    Posted May 23, 2007 3:00 pm PT

    Will i be able to sidetalk?

  • GrimBee

    Posted May 23, 2007 2:58 pm PT

    i prefer a sonyerricson phone anyday

  • Bandit_Haze

    Posted May 23, 2007 2:37 pm PT

    thats fantastic, now how about some games..

  • rikhan_z

    Posted May 23, 2007 2:29 pm PT

    PSP into a mobile... hmmm who thought of that Idea? any more Original Products?

  • PS3_3DO

    Posted May 23, 2007 2:23 pm PT

    Since when is the PSP a Phone?

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