Sony Ericsson 'obviously' considering PlayStation-branded phone

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Aug 28th 2007 at 12:15PM }

Stuffing an electronic device in your pocket simply isn't worth enduring the oddly shaped bulge if it can't play some decent games, right? Sony Ericsson seemingly agrees in an interview with Pocket Gamer, with the phone company's Peter Ahnegard (touché!) discussing the possibility of releasing a PlayStation-branded phone. Ahnegard explains that sticking the PlayStation name on a phone is easier said than done, as consumers have certain expectations from such a prominent label.

"We're not launching a brand of handset simply because we can, but because we can lead up to the expectations of the consumer," he said. "Up until today we haven't felt we could launch a PlayStation phone because it wouldn't be recognised as a true continuation of that brand of products." When further prodded, Ahnegard admits that a PlayStation phone is "obviously something that we're looking at" and expects it to materialize in some form before Christmas... "but exactly which Christmas I can't confirm!" Well, that narrows it down.

Tags: Phone, PlayStation, SonyEricsson

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jerk Face @ Aug 28th 2007 12:20PM

IN THE YEAR TWENTY NINE TWENTY NINE, THE PLAYSTATION PHONE CAME OUT JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AND THERE WAS MUCH DEFECATION!

Marty @ Aug 28th 2007 12:27PM

Why don't they concentrate more on their ailing PS3 platform, rather than stretching their "computer entertainment" resources further with another N*Gage?

gullum @ Aug 28th 2007 1:24PM

Sony Ericsson is a Joint venture between Sony Corp. and Ericsson. In other words, SE and regular Sony are 2 different companies entirely.

t_m @ Aug 28th 2007 2:13PM

plus, SE is good while Sony sucks.

As people's lives get busier, and more working people play games, I think the handheld sector is gonna overtake the home console one. (if it hasn't already.. which it probably has if you count cell-phone games).

Sony has tried for years, and repeatedly failed, to make a decent mp3 player. However the SE Walkman phones rock.. and they are the closest anyone has ever come to unseating the ipod. (hence the iphone response).

Sony's PSP is unlikely to ever beat nintendo in a straight fight... but an SE Playstation phone would have a pretty good chance.
(heck, a lot of the phones here in japan can do PS1 level graphics at the very least... and people here spend a fortune on mobile games).

Frankly, i think nintendo's also gonna have to either enter the phone market, or start licensing their platform to phone makers.

hvnlysoldr @ Aug 28th 2007 12:34PM

Even the best phone games would be infinitely better on a dedicated machine. Except for the rare game that actually uses the phone but that's phone tag and everybody hates that.

DarthDavid @ Aug 28th 2007 12:36PM

If they do this, I hope they DON'T use the Sony Ericsson phones....those are UGLY, UGLY phones dudes. Build it from the ground up (sleek/beautiful not square/butt Ericsson design) + Hot Shots Golf (perfect controls for phones) and you may have something there dudes.

riggs @ Aug 28th 2007 1:12PM

i dont know what phones youre talking about but SE phones have always looked good.

eM @ Aug 28th 2007 6:10PM

SE makes the best phones on the market, hands-down. They might not be as gaudy as the Moto/Samsung/Nokia crap, but they have a much superior interface and more solid capabilities.

flyy @ Aug 28th 2007 3:20PM

Agree with riggs, I

flyy @ Aug 28th 2007 3:31PM

That didn't work.

Anyway, I agree with riggs because I

flyy @ Aug 28th 2007 3:32PM

what the crap. ludwig, tell me what's wrong with this thing

hvnlysoldr @ Aug 28th 2007 4:40PM

Jane stop this crazy thing!

Steve Johnson @ Aug 28th 2007 12:38PM

But, but....I just upgraded to the SE W580i.....which surprisingly came with a full copy of Lumines.

samfish @ Aug 28th 2007 12:57PM

So do we think an iPlaystation will flop harder than the PSP or not?

JP @ Aug 28th 2007 1:10PM

ps-gage with umd!

gullum @ Aug 28th 2007 1:27PM

Your opinion. Take a look at the S500i. My current phone and quite the looker. Oh and it came with a full copy of Lumines Block Challenge (yay!).

gullum @ Aug 28th 2007 1:28PM

ugh, my reply was meant for DarthDavid

jimy @ Aug 28th 2007 2:20PM

That is gonna be one expensive cell phone.

h8rain @ Aug 28th 2007 2:37PM

Bring back TACO TALKING!!!!!! :)

BTW a cell that can take a UMD would be huge (width wise)

lord thanatos @ Aug 28th 2007 2:59PM

guaranteed FAILURE

"hey, did you see that new playstation phone??"

sigh...

just plain stupid idea. with a cross media bar...arrhgrhg shoot THEM now before they begin.

wreaks of brand over estimation.

entr0py @ Aug 29th 2007 4:09AM

Just save yourself some cash and duct tape your PSP to the back of your iPhone. It's a duel screen, flip (over) phone, computer entertainment, pocket-brick solution for the next century!