Rumor: Home is coming on Dec 17th? [Update]

[Update: Our sister site Joystiq was contacted by Home's director, Jack Buser, who stated that the open beta phase of the service will launch "by the end of calendar year 2008." However, an exact date or means of delivery were not revealed. Based on Buser's "wide grin" when responding to the inquiry, Joystiq postulates that it won't be through conventional means (such as a firmware update or PS Store).]

According to the Times Online, a web version of the UK newspaper that's been in circulation since 1785, the long-awaited PlayStation Home will be released "in the next 10 days." The article is dated December 7th, so simple arithmetic would allow us to conclude that Home will make its debut by December 17th.

At the very least, the rumored date seems realistic; afterall, we've been promised again and again that Home will make its debut in 2008. Sony won't attest to the accuracy of that date. "We're not commenting on that story, I'm afraid," an SCEE representative told VG247. Let's all keep our fingers crossed -- bring Home home, Sony!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]