Consumer electronics giant Sony (NYSE: SNE) 
announced a new version of its PlayStation Portable handheld games console that can be used as a telephone, to go on sale in Europe and the United States in mid-October.
The PlayStation Portable 3000, which has been the subject of speculation on technology Web sites, will have a built-in microphone and a new screen which has more colors and is better suited for use outdoors, Sony said at a video games convention in Leipzig, Germany, on Wednesday.
Price Bump
The PSP already supports the software program Skype .
"We believe that this will establish the PSP as a viable communication device," said David Reeves, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.
The PSP 3000 will retail for 199 euros (US$296), compared to 169 euros ($251) for the current slim version of the PSP, which will remain on sale.
Bigger Console
Sony also said it would launch a version of its flagship PlayStation 3 console with a 160 gigabyte hard drive to store more downloaded content and video, to retail for 449 euros ($668) on Oct. 31. including 70 euros credit for downloads.
A version of the PS3 with an 80 gigabyte hard-drive will go on sale for 399 euros ($593) later in August, Sony said.
Music videos streamed over the Internet would soon be available free to the PS3, while a music and video download service modeled on its U.S. version should be available across Europe by the third quarter of 2009, the company added.
© 2008 AFX News Limited. All rights reserved.
© 2008 ECT News Network. All rights reserved.
Talkback: 