Rumors, in the form of a decrypted firmware, cropped up last February regarding
Skype on the PSP. In August, at the Leipzig Games Conference, Sony officially unveiled
Go! Messenger – the newly branded suite of VoIP tools by British telecommunications giant, BT – which is due this month. On Sony's
event page for CES 2008, the massive consumer electronics expo kicking off in Las Vegas this weekend, they list a curious feature for their handheld: "Call friends, talk trash to fellow gamers or catch up with acquaintances via Skype for PSP system." (Click on the controller and then on the PSP to bring up a list of the features, as seen above).
Could Sony finally show off the long-anticipated VoIP platform? And why isn't it using the Go! Messenger branding? And why are we asking so many questions? We can't be sure, but we've asked Sony to comment on their webpage.
[Thanks, Jorge]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GRANTED @ Jan 2nd 2008 10:44AM
can sony just concentrate on one substantial ps3 firmware update? 2 crucial features are still completely absent, and every time i hear about some small retarded feature added to the psp or ps3, i get more and more pissed.
if i want to use skype i'll use my computer. if you really are the kind of person who needs to place international calls consistently while on the road, you probably aren't carrying a psp around.
GRANTED @ Jan 2nd 2008 10:46AM
"trash talk to fellow gamers" ...while not playing a game? god sony i hate you most of the time.
xFenixKnightx @ Jan 2nd 2008 10:58AM
"can sony just concentrate on one substantial ps3 firmware update?"
B4 I even clicked on the link, I had this same damn thought! Ugh!
Trev @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:02AM
On one hand, I agree. They should focus more on the certain features. In-game XMB on the PS3 would give some owners what they want. Personally, I'm not going to stop playing Warhawk in the middle of a match just to text my bff jill. Any-time invites for people would be good, but most games already let you jump into games on your own; I can't invite you to my Warhawk game, but you can go to the friends list in Warhawk and join the game I'm in.
On the other, I'm a sucker for fancy shit like voip calls from a videogame handheld.
Lets hope they go with the reasonable compromise and give us both... and cake.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:59AM
This is PSP, not PS3.
It's like saying you wish MS would stop screwing around adding features to the 360 and fix Vista.
They're two different dev teams.
JPN @ Jan 2nd 2008 10:48AM
Wow, Sony knows me so well, I love talking trash to fellow gamers! I often sit around and wonder how I can do so.
comtar @ Jan 2nd 2008 10:51AM
And let's not forget... "Crank call anyone anywhere with your PSP. Ask people if their refrigerator is running."
TheGuy @ Jan 2nd 2008 10:54AM
Sony really needs to release a keyboard attachment for the PSP. That's one of the key accessories lacking to make-it a true well-rounded multimedia and communications device.
ShortFuse @ Jan 2nd 2008 10:57AM
The thing is, I don't use my PSP that much. It really needs a redesign. It's way too big. The slim is a terrible redesign. It's too long. The thickness wasn't the problem. The problem was not having deep pockets and having it stick out of my coat pocket, meaning if I don't want it to be stolen in public, I'd have to always have my hand in my pocket
FOXHOUND @ Jan 2nd 2008 10:58AM
This is nice, but what I want is my goddamn burger!
GET ME A WHOPPER! >:O
FidliousWong @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:13AM
I feel so sorry for the people who had to work that day.
samfish @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:02AM
I hate Skype. I stopped using it after like the 8th guy just randomly decided I wanted to watch him jack off on his cam.
Christopher Grant @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:18AM
What did you do with the first seven?
samfish @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:23AM
Oh ho ho! I think you know...
DCBlack @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:06AM
I just want the in-game XMB on PS3 so I can toggle my surround sound on and off without having to leave the game. I don't care about much else.
ThornedVenom @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:19AM
Seems like someone wants to enter the iPhone's line of fire, although at a completely different level (wifi VoIP vs. exclusive phone carrier).
James @ Jan 2nd 2008 11:29AM
Could be cool. There aren't many PSP owners around here, infact the only other PSP owner here broke his screen. So it might be wasted since I'd rather talk to friends and family than "talking smack" to strangers.
Still it might be good for the people who shout a lot on Xbox Live.
DrXym @ Jan 2nd 2008 12:13PM
Skype for PSP would be cool but it would require a microphone which in turn implies a dongle.
Matt B @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:42PM
It has begun:
http://vgchartz.com/hwlaunch.php
James @ Jan 2nd 2008 2:13PM
Christ! Look at the Wii go :o
James @ Jan 2nd 2008 2:15PM
Ultra Christ! http://vgchartz.com/hwlaunch.php?cons1=Wii®1=All&cons2=PS2®2=All&cons3=DS®3=All&weeks=156
Sorry. I just had no idea Ninty pwned everything this much.
plyx @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:48PM
I'm a little surprised the PS3 is outselling the 360 in the same amount of time.
B1gC72 @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:41PM
eww. why are they showing the ugly 20GB PS3 on the website?
oh well. ive never used Skype so i wouldnt mind trying it out. it would still probably be useless to me if i couldnt call landlines with it though since most of the people i hang with dont even have high speed internet yet lol. (yea i live in the sticks. i have this wireless satellite internet deal though)
ThornedVenom @ Jan 2nd 2008 6:23PM
You can call landlines with skype: you pay the minutes though, but notice that voip is definitely cheaper than regular phoning.
Only reason why voip hasn't killed the current phone market is because no solution can guarantee the best audio quality. But standards are shifting...
B1gC72 @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:43PM
eww. why are they showing the ugly 20GB PS3 on the website?
oh well. ive never used Skype so i wouldnt mind trying it out. it would still probably be useless to me if i couldnt call landlines with it though since most of the people i hang with dont even have high speed internet yet lol. (yea i live in the sticks. i have this wireless satellite internet deal though)
atharv @ Jan 2nd 2008 6:35PM
I dont know if sum1 already mentioned this, but they have a entry for TivoToGo in the screenshot...
bAssackwards @ Jan 2nd 2008 7:18PM
I love using Skype! It'd be cool to have it on my PSP.
drun @ Jan 2nd 2008 9:07PM
I want to use the PS3 to remote play the PSP, plugging a cable everytime is annoying. Some games like Patapon I wanna share with others.
And, isn't the SkyPe already available somewhere in the world, just like the LocationFree TV? They mention the feature doens't mean it will go globally.
If they will annouce a new PSP 8ms screen...I remember it is 32ms.