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A PlayStation-Branded Phone Might Actually Be Coming

A trusted source dishes out some details.

By Brad Nicholson  |  Aug. 12, 2010

Rumors of a PSP smart-phone hybrid have taken center stage once again, as Engadget believes it has the real skinny on what Sony plans to do in this arena.  The pub's "trusted source" asserts that we could see an Android 3.0-based PlayStation-branded phone from Sony Ericsson as early as this October. 

The phone, according to the source, will have standard PSP buttons and a touch-based d-pad, eliminating the nub from the equation. This "gaming" portion of the phone will be accessible via a sliding landscape screen that measures between 3.7 and 4.1 inches. In addition to a baller screen, the phone will also "likely" have a beastly 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, which in plain speak, means that PSOne and PSP games are possible. In fact, the source says games being shown privately are from both of those platforms. 
 

This is not a phone, but apparently the phone will look something like this.      
This is not a phone, but apparently the phone will look something like this.      

Engadget believes this to be more than rumor, but more importantly, the pieces seem to fit. Google wants in on the entertainment space and Sony no doubt wants to sell a lighter, smaller, and more digital-based PSP without giving away 10 games alongside purchases. Perhaps this is the reason why we didn't see that PSP2 unveil at E3, as was speculated heavily before the event, eh?
88 Comments
iAmJohnon Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:21 p.m.
Is that so?
 
EDIT:  Man, I'm a douche.
luceon Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:21 p.m.
AAHHHHHHHHH
ProfessorEsson Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:23 p.m.
What's the opposite of surprised?
Bluemanon Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:23 p.m.
I would rather they just get on with the PSP 2.
Video_Game_King is online on Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:23 p.m.
@ProfessorEss said:
" What's the opposite of surprised? "
Especially when these rumors abounded during development of the PSP?
ProfessorEsson Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:24 p.m.
@Blueman said:

" I would rather they just get on with the PSP 2. "

I would rather they focus on games for the PSPAnything. :)
Allproxon Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:24 p.m.
This sounds like it could work.
Devil240Zon Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:29 p.m.
Yes yes yes PSP phone please be real.
MrGtDon Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:30 p.m.
They shouldn't use the Go design, that's too similar to the N-Gage.
Dudacleson Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:31 p.m.
@ProfessorEss said:
" What's the opposite of surprised? "
Unsurprised.
AhmadMetallic is online on Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:33 p.m.
@ProfessorEss said:
" @Blueman said:

" I would rather they just get on with the PSP 2. "

I would rather they focus on games for the PSPAnything. :) "
I would rather they dont keep pumping out fancy Playsation-related hardware that i cant afford
Ujioon Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:33 p.m.
Oh yeah. This is a good idea. For sure....
blazerx9xon Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:34 p.m.
@ProfessorEss said:
" What's the opposite of surprised? "
dissapointed?
Jamsqueon Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:35 p.m.
I can totally see Sony competing with Apple and Google in the phone OS market. 
 
Oh no, wait, no, no I can't.
scarace360on Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:36 p.m.
o great >_>
Iron_Paston Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:38 p.m.
Anything that has gaming as its secondary function fails. That was my problem with how they've handled the PSP in the first place. Also, taking an analogue stick away instead of adding a second one also fails.
Spunkrakeon Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:38 p.m.
Let me know when it's got TWO ANALOG STICKS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS THING!!!
Eribusteron Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:39 p.m.
@Jamsque said:

" I can totally see Sony competing with Apple and Google in the phone OS market.  Oh no, wait, no, no I can't. "

If Sony Ericsson using Android is any indication, I think a Playstation Phone might be Android-powered. 
 
EDIT: I think this is a good course for Sony to head towards. I don't think they can go in a straight pissing match against Nintendo in portable gaming. The PSP vs. DS proved that. Having a more network-connected gaming portable would be a nice sidestep against the 3DS.
Landonon Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:40 p.m.
@Ahmad_Metallic said:
" @ProfessorEss said:
" @Blueman said:

" I would rather they just get on with the PSP 2. "

I would rather they focus on games for the PSPAnything. :) "
I would rather they dont keep pumping out fancy Playsation-related hardware that i cant afford "
This. A thousand times this.
Meteoraon Aug. 12, 2010 at 12:42 p.m.
@Jamsque: If we wanted to speak more technically, its Sony that is supporting Android (Google), since Sony won't be the only manufacturer for Android phones. 
 
Also the mock up from the other thread made me disbelieve that this could happen, but hey, there's a real possibility now. Android has been lacking behind in the gaming department. If Sony can push this out, we could see a surge in Android popularity. Part of the reason why iPhone has been so successful are the games that come on it. Android can duplicate that success, but with real games.
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