Sony PSP News

Detailed: Sony reveals Skype for PSP

By Stevie Smith Jan 7, 2008, 6:31 GMT

Free Skype calls coming to the PlayStation Portable. Credit: Skype.

It plays games and movies, it interacts with the PlayStation 3, and now it’s a phone too. Moreover, Sony Computer Entertainment has now confirmed the arrival of free telephony service Skype on the new 'slim and light' PlayStation Portable videogame console.

With Skype software, lucky PSP owners can look forward to getting involved with a popular Internet-based communication system that already boasts some 246 million users worldwide.

The Skype service on PSP will allow users to enjoy free voice calls between Skype users, while also giving them access to Skype contact list management, Skype presence (who’s online and available), SkypeOut (for sending calls to landlines and cell phones), and optional SkypeIn (for receiving calls from landlines and cell phones). Both SkypeOut and SkypeIn require the purchase of Skype credit.

Those PSP owners keen to embrace Skype and chat for free with other online Skype users will soon get the chance, with Sony outlining that the software is scheduled for introduction via a "simple system software update" expected to arrive before the close of January.

After the acceptance of the Skype-imbued system update, a special Skype icon will duly appear through the PSP’s existing ‘Network’ file in the home menu, says Sony.

Registration to Skype – for those not already armed with a username – can be completed by clicking on the icon and following the on-screen directions. PSP owners already registered to Skype will be able to sign in to the service immediately via the Skype icon.

It might not have the same sexy profile as the iPhone, but the integration of Skype shows that Sony’s PlayStation Portable is continuing to expand its worth as a genuine handheld entertainment system that allows users to revel in a variety of interactive digital mediums.

Early adopters of the original PlayStation Portable are likely to be somewhat disgruntled by the fact that Skype for PSP will only be made available for the new 'slim and light' PSP-2000 model.

Sony has not yet offered an explanation as to why a sizeable portion of the PSP user base will not gain access to Skype.

Note: To fully enjoy Skype’s features on the PSP, users will also need access to Memory Stick Duo storage, a wireless Internet connection, and a Skype-compatible audio input device.