Sony Ericsson working on a PSP phone?

As far as rumors go, this one is about as thin on the deets as they come, but Cnet Asia is reporting that Sony Ericsson senior VP of Product and Application Planning, Rikko Sakaguchi, actually alluded to plans for a game-playing phone at a recent press event in Sweden. During what was presumably the Q&A portion of a media conference in honor of the merged company's fifth anniversary, Sakaguchi reportedly answered a question about a theoretical PSP phone (most decidedly NOT pictured above) by saying simply that Sony Ericsson "is working on something," but that "the surprise must be kept for the future." Yeah, we know, not too much meat here -- Sakaguchi did mention that the objective was to integrate gaming and communications functions, not to create a dedicated gaming device (whatever that means) -- however, after the relative success of its Walkman and Cybershot lineup of handsets, it certainly makes sense for the company to leverage the PlayStation brand in this market as well. Sony Ericsson would be wise, though, to learn from Nokia's experience with the N-Gage, which is that, well, people don't like the N-Gage. So, here's to hoping that the Ericsson side of the equation can knock some sense into the Sony side of the equation, or else we may end up with a bulky, side-talkin' handset which uses even more proprietary formats that no one is interested in.

[Via Maxconsole]

[ryantv @ Sep 5th 2006 9:53PM]

they can make all the accessories in the world, but that sure isnt going to make PSP's games any better.

Glad I sold mine on ebay when I did.

[element4life3 @ Sep 5th 2006 9:59PM]

For gods sake PLEASE bring out a Nintendo DS Phone!!!!Who cares about a PSP phone. Imagine a little smaller version of the DS that plays the DS cartriges. It would even be a flip up phone! Or maybe it could even be a slider or a swivel(ala sidekick.)

I know it wont happen, but cant a guy dream?

[3rdsun @ Sep 5th 2006 10:51PM]

That would be great. I think they were experimenting with the W600 and K790/800 by giving them dedicated gaming buttons. Now that they work great its onto the P1010. Vaio might be next in line.

[Emceay @ Sep 5th 2006 10:52PM]

ah hahahahhaha, omfg that mock-up left a stain in my pants. It was either the idea of trying to cram that thing in my pocket, or just the idea of the PSP being a telephone. It's a real toss-up, both are absurdities.

I'm with element4life3, give me a gba card that can handle a sim card. At the very least, make the DS a VoIP when the Wii hits. I can't imagine sending text msgs or dialing on a PSP without needing a second battery.

[Miles @ Sep 5th 2006 10:55PM]

Hey now. The psp is a great system and they are actually starting to come out with some good games these days. For example, Tekken, Defjam, Valkyrie Profile and the new GTA is on the way. Oh, and don't forget LocoRoco (why is that fun?). I personally love my psp. It is my all in one tool for everything and I have been waiting for something like this. I will say however that it might look a little funny if it didn't use a headset and I am also skeptical as far as battery life goes. You will have to get the extended battery. All in all, I have faith in Sony.

[SonyDSPSP @ Sep 5th 2006 10:58PM]

I am skeptical about battery life with all those explosions....Sony needs to get their act together.

[srg59 @ Sep 5th 2006 11:11PM]

Sweet, I always wanted a cell phone the size of a brick. It's like totally 80's!

[dating service @ Sep 5th 2006 11:13PM]

That will never sell in the US.

What is it with these big name products trying to be something they're not (quite literally) I thought they have an I-pod phone (disaster as I predicted), now a Sony PSP phone? Who on EARTH would use that as their cell phone?

The only good use for an voice feature would be for PSP wireless games. Maaaybe. Not worth a price hike to hear a bunch of 7 year olds.

[Dull @ Sep 5th 2006 11:55PM]

It might be all right with Bluetooth, but they should shrink the PSP size down before that. The unit is too large to carry as a phone.

[Scott @ Sep 6th 2006 12:50AM]

unfortunately, this probably wont work unless they make some really sleek phone...i actually had an Ngage and i liked it..the ngage qd is pretty cool too, but it was ridiculous to talk on...i hope this doesnt go the same way the ngage did..

[Shovel @ Sep 6th 2006 6:09AM]

>>they can make all the accessories in the world, but that sure isnt going to make PSP's games any better.

welcome to last year. . .

There are an ass-load of good PSP games now. Pretty much all the major frachises are now on the system.

Hell, this month alone there are several great games coming out. . .

MetalGearSolid Portable Ops
Loco Roco
Ultimate Ghost and Goblins
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
The Godfather: Mob Wars
Madden 07

and next month in October:

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
FIFA 07
PowerStone
Family Guy the Videogame
Dungeon Siege
Splinter Cell: Double Agent
Medal of Honor Heroes
Metal Slug Anthology
etc etc

and all that before the even better games come out in November (to lazy to read the list from Gamefaqs.com).

[PEZ @ Sep 6th 2006 6:20AM]

A game playing phone from Sony... LOL

[Lee Gibson @ Sep 6th 2006 11:20AM]

That's AWESOME! I couldn't get one of those taco phones...but this is way better! It's a QUESADILLA! Or a pizza!

SO COOL! Does it come in a little cardboard box carrying case?

(Uh huh. Yeah. Not awesome or cool.)

[HardwareGuy @ Sep 6th 2006 2:17PM]

Sidetalkin' 2.0!
http://www.sidetalkin.com/

[Dew @ Sep 6th 2006 4:01PM]

What next, a dildo?.. Please keep it simple Sony. Let PSP be the gaming/multimedia device and keep bringing good content - that's all we need. Thanks.

[I,Robot @ Sep 6th 2006 11:40PM]

@Shovel
The voice of the corporate shell (or delusional fanboy), either way – the same result.

The PSP as a phone… WTF? There’s NO WORDS for how stupid that is. I actually think we’ve run-out-of-words.

[keith @ Sep 7th 2006 11:07AM]

To make it unbulky sony can use the TOUCHSCREEN technology.Everything will be dialed from the screen raher than giving it another pad & there is no harm in making such things.Besides it is for mankind.

[kamron_1 @ Sep 7th 2006 8:03PM]

This is kinda old news, the Pre-release version of the K610i was what was supposed to be the "PSP phone", and it's not gaming per-se, but the ability to link your psp with your phone

http://forums.se-nse.net/index.php?showtopic=2560
(pix inside)

[pixelator @ Sep 7th 2006 8:17PM]

"The voice of the corporate shell (or delusional fanboy), either way – the same result."

Er, you mean SHILL? You know, what you are for Nintendo products, while bashing the PSP on every game related web blog you can find? Oh, you're not being paid? How embarrassing.

Ever notice the DS to PSP fanboy ratio on these sites? You'd think that if Nintendo had such better games that more of you would be PLAYING them and not spending so much time attacking Sony and the PSP online.

[Sean Glickman @ Sep 8th 2006 2:55AM]

this means you have to update.... no thanks

[me,myself and psp @ Oct 18th 2006 8:52PM]

i think its a great idea,am a splinter cell addict so hving all in one gadget plus wireless bluetooth headset and running after my two year old, i'll be the coolest momma on earth lmao!!!

[karl @ Aug 28th 2007 3:04PM]

uggly. psp is to big for a phone...