Google targets PSP to build municipal Wi-Fi networks
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Feb 3rd 2006 at 1:45PM }
Google
recently met with Sony to discuss how users could use their PSPs to access municipal Wi-Fi networks, which Google hopes
to bring to the San Francisco area and beyond. The San Francisco network would be free to the city and its users, to an
extent—Google will likely offer a premium service, featuring higher speeds for paying customers. In addition,
with the proper network access installed on the PSP, Google could deliver location-specific ads to gamers. That is,
Google can track which access point the PSP is connecting through and send out an ad for a business around the
block.[via Digg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BS Police @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:04PM
Cool. Now all we need is a firmware update to make the PSP browser actually work. The thing is pretty weak.
mandarin @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:19PM
Why not Nintendo DS?
SuicideNinja @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:46PM
#2, is that a rhetorical question? Of course google would hit up the PSP because it has a Sony-supported browser built in. But then again, I don't understand why anyone would want to browse on the PSP...it is slow and clumsy. But if you try to browse on a DS with Win2DS through your computer, that can be clumsy for the moment, too.
Although the touch screen and the more solid WiFi connection the DS gets would seem to beg for this sort of thing. However, the DS's low memory and screen format hinder the possibility of a browser (not that the home-brewers aren't trying).
xbox360dsPSP @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:04PM
Suddenly, it all is abundantly clear. Sony is going to have an XBOX Live like offering. They're going to partner with Google to pull it off.
Remember that Live is more than software and services, Microsoft worked with ISPs and network hardware folks to make it work as seamless as possible. There is only one other company on the planet that can pull it off -- Google.
Enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Eric @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:09PM
#2
Most likely the customer demographic that owns PSP's have a much higher purchasing power than those that own DS's and are therfore the "premium" customers to target with an advertising service such as this.
Tuff T @ Feb 3rd 2006 3:53PM
Why would anyone want to access the internet on their psp anyway? I mean what is the point????
Ripcord83 @ Feb 3rd 2006 4:09PM
sounds good to me, since i live in the bay area and my town has only 7 hotspots that are free and nowhere around me.
Darius @ Feb 3rd 2006 5:41PM
I'll agree with #1 here. Have they tweaked the browser at all since v2.00? I'm still with that because of homebrew goodness, and i have yet to find an access point where my PSP will actually connect. Hell, I can't even get it to work at my local coffee shop where its been free wi-fi for over a year!
Cheers,
Darius