Sony refuses PlayStation brand for PSP Phone?

[xtop]

http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/16/s...son-psp-phone/

We've been following PSP Phone rumors since 2006, forever on a tech timeline. A device we figure to be in-line with the natural evolution of mobile gaming and by the fact that Sony already licenses its Bravia and Cyber-shot brands for use on other Sony Ericsson phones. Not so fast buster. Mobile Today (citing "several sources close to the matter") is reporting that Sony Ericsson has been refused the use of the PlayStation brand by Sony Corp. after pitching the business case in December. A spokesperson for Sony Ericsson wouldn't comment directly on the matter but did say, "In the past, we have been keen that our product proposition lives up to brand promise, and we feel at the moment the technical specs are not high enough to put such a prestigious brand on a phone." With Sony Ericsson posting a massive $346 million dollar loss today compared to the $95 million expected, well, maybe Sony's wisdom shouldn't be questioned. Then again, Sony's not doing much better.

[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...

[Marine Mike]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/...ts-say/1281155

Playstation phone plans hit snag, reports say
Hardware specs "not high enough"
By Mike Smith
ADVERTISEMENT


Will we ever see a Playstation phone? This much-rumored device apparently took a step further from reality this week: the latest design from Sony's joint phone development wing was vetoed by Sony brass, according to reports on Mobile Today.

In the words of a Sony Ericsson spokeswoman: "We feel at the moment the technical specs are not high enough to put such a prestigious brand on a phone."

Sony Ericsson already makes phones branded with Sony trademarks such as Cyber-shot, Walkman, and Bravia, and has been rumored to be preparing a Playstation-branded device -- presumably with a heavy emphasis on providing a fulfilling gaming experience -- for several years.

[jasontkelley1746]

I think it would be a failure if it ever happened.

[Mr. HiDef]

Originally Posted by jasontkelley1746

I think it would be a failure if it ever happened.

+1

[Blubaru]

Something....Something N-gage.

[neos_peace]

what the heck would you use it for is what I;m wondering.

[xtop]

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=81665



and why would it be a failure. take the psp..add phone. whats not to like?

[aristotles]

Originally Posted by xtop

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=81665



and why would it be a failure. take the psp..add phone. whats not to like?

Because the PSP would be old hardware by the time it came out? Because in order to be effective as a PSP, it would have to be an odd shape and size for a phone? Because there is already an entrenched rising star that is a music player, phone, internet communication device and portable touch screen computer?

In order for Sony to compete, they would have to have significantly better specs than the PSP to overcome the inertia of the iPhone/iPod Touch, have a DRM free online music/video store, have a syncing/management tools on windows "and" OS X and offer sale of games and other software for it through their management tool and on the phone itself.

Trying to sell a phone device that only catered to games would not have much of a chance at this point in the game.

Tying it to windows only or just to the PS3 would be a major mistake. No offence to windows users but the windows community tend to be followers rather than leaders when it comes to "buying" music online. iTMS was a success because it was tried out on the mac platform first and then released onto windows after there was pent up demand for it among windows users wanting to join in on the fun. It also would not make much sense to sync with the PS3 since nobody keeps their contacts/phone numbers on their console.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by aristotles

Because the PSP would be old hardware by the time it came out? Because in order to be effective as a PSP, it would have to be an odd shape and size for a phone? Because there is already an entrenched rising star that is a music player, phone, internet communication device and portable touch screen computer?

In order for Sony to compete, they would have to have significantly better specs than the PSP to overcome the inertia of the iPhone/iPod Touch, have a DRM free online music/video store, have a syncing/management tools on windows "and" OS X and offer sale of games and other software for it through their management tool and on the phone itself.

Trying to sell a phone device that only catered to games would not have much of a chance at this point in the game.

Tying it to windows only or just to the PS3 would be a major mistake. No offence to windows users but the windows community tend to be followers rather than leaders when it comes to "buying" music online. iTMS was a success because it was tried out on the mac platform first and then released onto windows after there was pent up demand for it among windows users wanting to join in on the fun. It also would not make much sense to sync with the PS3 since nobody keeps their contacts/phone numbers on their console.

why would they use the psp hardware? you do realize psp2 is well on its way right? and even if they only used the psp..the games look better on the psp than they do on the iphone.

but why should they not bother just because apple has the iphone? everyone should just not bother? i don't get it. and i highly doubt it'd have anything to do with windows mobile. but there's a music store coming to the ps3, so competing against itunes isn't a big deal at all.

and it wouldn't be as large as the psp. ideally there would be 2 sku's. a psp..and a psp phone. one full on gaming machine..one phone that does games. heck..they could be 2 very different looking machines..as max said, they're looking at the psp phone to only do downloadable games, not full on retail games anyways.

it kinda sounds like you just love your precious iphone and can't see something else living up to it