Japanese train riders to get PSPs

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan and the East Japan Rail Company have announced a deal that will provide Sony PlayStation Portable rentals to passengers riding in first-class "green car" seats on Hayate trains. The offer begins October 1 and ends March 31, 2007. To be eligible for the campaign, customers must purchase a travel package through View, JR East's official travel agency.

Sony Japan sees this campaign as an opportunity to market the PSP to a wider range of age groups. The comfy green-car seats are often thrown in to sweeten travel packages, meaning they are used by vacationing families and senior citizens traveling in the off-season, not just professionals riding on expense accounts. The rental package consists of the PSP, headphones with in-line remote, and software titles selected by Sony Japan.