What you’re getting me for Xmas

The media information read similar to so many others we get here at CRMchump: Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. has outlined new software and hardware features that it plans to add to its PlayStation Portable during… (Sound of needle scratching across the already broken record.) What was that? New features for Play Station? Including VoIP? VoIP for PlayStation.

Right, now, we’re reporting… SCEI president Ken Kutaragi stated at a briefing for software developers in Tokyo that Sony was indeed planning three software updates during 2006. Update no. 1 is actually overdue by my calendar, having been planned for spring, but hasn’t yet left the cocoon. This update will add support for Macromedia Inc.’s Flash, a new camera and a Global Positioning System unit; the update also promises the ability to download audio podcasts, a Chinese font set.

The camera and GPS unit themselves will be launched in September and October, but, goes the reasoning, by adding software support earlier developers can write software to make use of the new hardware. The second software update adds video podcast support and expands the video profile for the universal media disc removable media that the PSP uses.

And finally, slated for winter (read: before Xmas), is the game set’s ability to boot games from Memory Stick media and VOIP telephony. The pair will enable software companies to offer games downloadable across the network and runable from the memory stick. The memory stick is promised to work with the camera module to enable the PSP VOIP handset capability or a video conferencing tool. The PSP includes a Wi-Fi adapter for network access.

Now this is what i want for the holiday … imagine actually calling in plays in NFL football. And o, the trash talking possibilities. Whoa. One has to wonder exactly who might be using this for video conferencing; i’ve got a pretty good imagination, though. Sony also announced plans to sell a cheaper version of the PSP in Europe and the U.S.

In Japan the handheld gaming device has been available in basic and value pack, but in other markets only the more expensive value pack with extras such as the memory stick memory have been available. The basic model will be available in Europe at approximately US $240 and in the United States at approximately US $199 both in late March.