All I Want for Christmas Is A PlayStation Phone

As you have seen by now, there is a large body evidence that supports the existence of the much rumored and highly debated, PlayStation Phone. (PSP) And it is my purpose here to cover every element within the media that supports the positions I already believe to be true. Whether through my own investigations or by my astute observation of the industries I cover.

Simply put, I plan to cite as many possible sources to support my positions. For most intelligent people tend to have a "show me" attitude. And well they should in this age of deception.

But wonder no more. The question has been answer. That which we already know to be true has now been officially confirmed. The PlayStation has become a reality.

Chris James from the web site PocketGamer.Co.UK scored this amazing exclusive interview with Sony Ericsson's "gaming guru," Peter Ahnegard.

Chris James: "Okay, on to the direct questions. Is there a dedicated category of gaming phones within Sony Ericsson?"

Peter Ahnegard: "We won't be marketing them specifically as gaming phones, but games will be factored in the consideration of more devices going forward."

(ed note: This is the same approach Sony took with their struggling PSP portable It was sold more as a multi-media device rather than a portable video game system.)

Chris James: "So when is the PlayStation phone coming?"

Peter Ahnegard: "I've been waiting for that one! To explain our position I need to look at the brands we've developed so far.... We're not launching a brand of handset simply because we can, but because we can lead up to the expectations of the consumer."

"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.

Chris James: "Up until today? So does that mean we can look forward to a PlayStation branded handset soon, say before Christmas?"

Peter Ahnegard: "It's obviously something that we're looking at but right now I can't really comment. Before Christmas, certainly... but exactly which Christmas I can't confirm!"

So there it is folks. Mr Ahnegard has basically confirmed the PlayStation Phone! However if you've been following this blog then you already knew that it was coming. The only question is when? Obviously Mr Ahnegard was playing coy with our intrepid reporter. But being a little more brazen that either men, I'm willing to guess exactly when Sony plans to reveal the PSP Phone.

Sometime before Christmas 2008

Next Time...

We examine the launch of the redesigned PSP Slim...

Secrets of the PlayStation Phone: Part Five

A Fork in the Road?

The PlayStation Phone gets its own development team. But how will it effect the current PlayStation Portable? Is this an example of diversifying the brand, or is Sony getting ready to jump ship?

Lets see what the folks at PocketGamer.co.uk have to say about this subject.

Sony planning to launch mobile games in Europe

SCEE to bring first-party PS3 games to phones?

"Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) is planning to move into mobile games, according to the new issue of Mobile Entertainment magazine.

What does that mean? Potentially a bunch of its first-party PS2 and PS3 games getting mobile conversions – the mag cites This Is Football, The Getaway and Primal as three examples, along with the frankly less-likely SingStar and EyeToy brands.

SCEE has apparently appointed former THQ Wireless executive Balbir Blugan as its head of mobile business development, to figure out how it should move into mobile.

It's possible that SCEE will develop and publish its own games, although the examples of Codemasters, Konami and Sega hint that partnering with a mobile publisher may be an easier way in, at least in the short-term.

...it does show how seriously console firms are taking the mobile market – and also that Sony clearly thinks mobile versions of its top titles won't negatively affect sales on PSP. "

Could Sony honestly be foolish enough to believe this last statement? In essence this means thier PlayStation phone would be competing directly with the current PlayStation Portable. All of the company's mega hit software on two different platforms.

When the Nintendo Co. launched their highly successful "Nintendo DS," their GameBoy Advance portable was selling almost a half million units a month. And this was in the United States alone.

Nintendo claimed they were taking a "third pillar" approach to the market. Meaning they would support two hand helds and a video game console all at the same time. Most people saw this as a bluff, feeling that Nintendo had no confidence in their new dual screen portable, and that it was merely a hold over to fend off Sony's advancement into the portable market.

Two years later the Nintendo DS rules the portable market and the GameBoy franchise is dead. The 3rd pillar strategy only wound up breaking one of the 3 pillars.

So this raises an interesting point. The original PSP has never done as well as either the Nintendo DS or the GBA. What does this mean for the future of Sony's floundering portable?