PSP Becomes a Phone Via UK Deal With BT

marcellizot writes "PSP owners might want to sit down for this one: Sony has just signed a four-year deal with BT to turn the PSP into a phone. The partnership will add wireless broadband communication functions, including high quality video calls, voice calls and messaging. The partnership will initially integrate the PSP with BT Broadband's video and voice softphone VoIP software, meaning that calls will be free, with the customer only having to pay for the BT broadband subscription. This means that initially the service will only enable the PSP to communicate with products that run the softphone software. BT has already confirmed however that in the months following the service's debut, additional features will be launched to enable calls and messages to PCs, fixed lines and mobiles."

Multi-functionality

[EMeta]

Woah--technology actually using its inherent capabilities? This is revolutionary! What next, the Zune playing songs from your computer's hard drive? cell phones transferring songs from one to another? A next generation operating system running faster than a previous generation? A moderation system that keeps obvious, redundant posts like this one out of the way?

Naw, some things are too crazy.

My Impression

[VE3OGG]

I gotta say, while it is nice to see Sony promoting its platform (something it has been known to do with lackluster results), and that they seem to be thinking up creative methods to do so, I can't say this passes my simple "common sense" litmus test.

If a service launches with an obviously limited functionality, very few will buy into it (as, really, it is just a nifty gee-whiz feature). However BT (and any company investing in such a move) would require significant sales initially to show that there is profitability. OF course, no one will be terribly interested in the PSP, so the sales won't be there, and the service will likely be axed, or those "improvements" will never appear...

Just my 2c Canadian....

Re:well...

[feepness]

I don't want to buy one either.

Because I already have two.

$200 portable video / mp3 player (including the 4GB card) with a beautiful screen that can play PS1 games in addition to it's own mature library.

Yeah, sucker me.

another nail in the Mylo coffin

[speculatrix]

seems like there's even less reason to get a Sony Mylo these days, I wonder what marketing genius at Sony decided to create it? OK, so the Mylo has Skype and a thumboard, but it's very expensive. If it weren't for the locked nature of the PSP I'm sure some entrepreneur would have produced some interesting packages for the PSP which would have made it more useful as a general purpose communicator.

Re:Must remember this...

[Anonymous Coward]

they don't have severe mental problems...

Let's not jump to conclusions, they'd be paying for a BT VOIP service...

Re:Still don't get it

[juanitoescarcha]

I've got both, and use them about the same time each. The PSP is great for racing, sports games and to a lesser extent FPS (like Battlefront) (this is debatable as Metroid Prime Hunters is very good), while the DS is easier to use for a five minute interval. Games like Burnout, Winning Eleven/FIFA, Madden are very bad in the DS.

I know, those games are better in a console, but I do not have the time to play with a console. The only way I can play console games is via ports to handhelds...and only the PSP can do it, or at least a lot better than the DS.