Supposedly, Sony is about to open a new department that will explore a "cell phone-game gear hybrid." Work on the fabled project could begin as early as this month. So far, Sony has declined to comment on the rumors.
If the rumors about a PSP phone were true, it would be fairly obvious to say that Sony is targeting Apple’s iPhone. Gaming has taken center stage in the iPhone-iTunes App Store since the introduction of the iPhone 3G. Seven of Apple's top ten iPhone applications are games, and mainstream game publishers have for some time been incorporating the iPhone into their plans.
Sony however, is struggling to keep its PlayStation Portable in the game. The PSP was recently retooled, producing a more compact device dubbed the PSP GO. The new device swaps out the UMD drive for a 16GB HDD, and also has a 3.8-inch screen, Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi connectivity, and a slide-out screen to reveal gaming controllers underneath. The PSP Go hits store shelves October 1st.
But when compared to the endlessly multifunctional iPhone, the new and improved PSP is still a one trick pony. While Sony has already crossed its brands Walkmen and CyberShot with its cell phone partner Sony Ericsson, the company has remained reluctant to do the same with the Playstation.
Sony was on the right path with the Aino. Using Sony's Remote Play feature, the device can pull any content from the PS3 – except games. While everyone likes all the other features the PS3 has to offer, it is still first and foremost a gaming console. So without gaming integration, the Aino is nothing more than another cell phone with Wi-Fi.
Some would say a PSP phone is a no-brainer, but Sony’s sluggishness on the idea isn’t really surprising when looking at the company’s history.
Sony’s Walkman, a once revolutionary gadget, lost out to the iPod before Sony even knew what hit them. Both the Xbox 360 and the Wii are outperforming the PlayStation 3, and Nintendo is crushing the PSP with its DS console.
If Sony could produce a do-it-all device, it could arguably regain all that lost ground, and leave its competition in the dust. The question is will Sony get a clue when it comes to consumer behavior, or will it continue to fall father behind in the innovation category?
Sony however, is struggling to keep its PlayStation Portable in the game. The PSP was recently retooled, producing a more compact device dubbed the PSP GO. The new device swaps out the UMD drive for a 16GB HDD, and also has a 3.8-inch screen, Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi connectivity, and a slide-out screen to reveal gaming controllers underneath. The PSP Go hits store shelves October 1st.
But when compared to the endlessly multifunctional iPhone, the new and improved PSP is still a one trick pony. While Sony has already crossed its brands Walkmen and CyberShot with its cell phone partner Sony Ericsson, the company has remained reluctant to do the same with the Playstation.
Sony was on the right path with the Aino. Using Sony's Remote Play feature, the device can pull any content from the PS3 – except games. While everyone likes all the other features the PS3 has to offer, it is still first and foremost a gaming console. So without gaming integration, the Aino is nothing more than another cell phone with Wi-Fi.
Some would say a PSP phone is a no-brainer, but Sony’s sluggishness on the idea isn’t really surprising when looking at the company’s history.
Sony’s Walkman, a once revolutionary gadget, lost out to the iPod before Sony even knew what hit them. Both the Xbox 360 and the Wii are outperforming the PlayStation 3, and Nintendo is crushing the PSP with its DS console.
If Sony could produce a do-it-all device, it could arguably regain all that lost ground, and leave its competition in the dust. The question is will Sony get a clue when it comes to consumer behavior, or will it continue to fall father behind in the innovation category?
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