Go!Messenger arrives in Europe Friday

Sony will release Go!Messenger on February 29. The PlayStation Portable application, originally announced at the Leipzig Games Convention 2006, allows PSP owners to IM and make calls on the go. Video calls can also be made when using Sony's Go!Cam accessory. However, Go!Explore, which adds GPS functionality to the PSP and was also revealed at GC 2006, has yet to emerge.

In addition to the live chat facilities, Go!Messenger will let users leave video and voice messages for one another. The service is available through any Wi-Fi access point, and Sony has also partnered with UK telecoms giant BT to provide free access through its 2,500 public Wi-Fi hot spots.

PSP European marketing manager Stephane Hareau said Go!Messenger is "enabling more than 8.5 million PSP users across the SCEE region to communicate with each other, through video or voice chat."

Go!Messenger functionality was added into the January 30 firmware update for the PSP, version 3.90, which needs to be installed in order for the application to work.