Sony refuses PlayStation brand for PSP Phone?

[Maximus]

Heard it a while ago.

Sony pissed at SE for wasting all of their brand equity on cheap phones that lose money.

PlayStation is seen in Sony as the saviour and should be reserved for special items. They are worried that giving SE licence to use the PS brand will devalue it like they have devalued the Walkman brand as of late (not having a premium Walkman phone to compete with iPhone has really irritated Sony).

[xtop]

ah thanks max. was wondering why it seemed to make all sorts of sense, then all of a sudden we hear sony says no

[Maximus]

I should make clear, that's not to say there won't be a PSPhone, it just won't be a SE made phone. It will be designed by SCE and be properly integrated into the PS family.

Talks atm are saying PSP2 and PSPhone will be similar, PSPhone must be able to play all downloadable games, while PSP2 can play full retail games. That was the word recently.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Talks atm are saying PSP2 and PSPhone will be similar, PSPhone must be able to play all downloadable games, while PSP2 can play full retail games. That was the word recently.

thats actually pretty much what i was expecting. i just hope they can make it into a "smartphone" as well. but i dunno if thats too much wishful thinking or not

edit: actually duh..the psp has a browser now, why expect otherwise. so that'll be smartphone enough for me

[Uxi]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

I should make clear, that's not to say there won't be a PSPhone, it just won't be a SE made phone. It will be designed by SCE and be properly integrated into the PS family.

Oh really? I thought they were just wanting it to be better. At least as good as their high end smart phones (old P-series). That sounds encouraging.

Originally Posted by Maxpower

Talks atm are saying PSP2 and PSPhone will be similar, PSPhone must be able to play all downloadable games, while PSP2 can play full retail games. That was the word recently.

Interesting. AFAIK, they were still denying PSP2 entirely. Good stuff. Every time I think about getting a PSP, I hold back. I'd love a PSphone. Top on my list:

quad band GSM. 5-band would be nice for a true "world phone."
Both Tmobile and AT&T 3G (unlikely, I know)

memory stick duo is fine with me (hate the super teeny tiny memory sticks. There is such a thing as TOO small). Regular memory stick duo is pretty cheap in higher capacities, too (~8GB). To say nothing of SD.

minimum 5mp camera with xenon flash for stills (night) and LED for video

big 16:9 OLED screen. AT least the size of the iphone. No smaller than 3", preferably 3.5" or so. So far, all other smart phone screens have sucked. X1 is some funky proportions (too narrow in landscape).

Don't rob the thing of RAM! Give it more than enough, please.

Bonus if I can use bluetooth or something to link up/control my PS3.

Even though I think they're way overhyped, get a native Youtube client (flash) and put a youtube app on the PS3, too. Bonus points for twitter or something similar.

Use Opera Mobile and don't reinvent the wheel or pay MSFT.

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

a PSP phone has a chance to do pretty well in that market if they avoid the type of shovelware that passes for games on iPhones. I can totally see myself playing PixelJunk Monsters on a PSP phone!

[dk3dknight]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Heard it a while ago.

Sony pissed at SE for wasting all of their brand equity on cheap phones that lose money.

PlayStation is seen in Sony as the saviour and should be reserved for special items. They are worried that giving SE licence to use the PS brand will devalue it like they have devalued the Walkman brand as of late (not having a premium Walkman phone to compete with iPhone has really irritated Sony).

If it makes SE happier I bought one of there walkman phones.. I really don't care for the Iphone.. I think ill stick with sony from here on end...