The games console and phone are increasingly blending into one, and convergence is happening from all angles. Nokia has for a long time been talking about putting its N-Gage gaming platform onto a series of smartphones. Now Sony has done a deal with BT to put voice and video call capabilities on the PlayStation Portable.

Of course, given that the PSP can connect to the internet via a wi-fi connection, you can already make internet calls on the device, if you can be bothered to set up Skype or something similar. However, from around September this year, BT are planning to make calls from the device a much easier, one-click operation.

There are advantages on both sides from the deal. BT are keen to get more wi-fi devices and paying users for its expensive network of 2000 wi-fi hotspots and 13 wireless cities around the UK.

Sony, on the other hand, is keen to add features to increase the appeal of the PSP, which saw sales fall by 5.7m units last year.

The pricing model is still shrouded in some secrecy – Sony is due to make announcements on this at the Leipzig Games Convention in August. And there is a the slight drawback that – at least initially – you will be able to call only other PSPs and BT internet phones.

However BT and Sony have taken one lesson from Nokia’s ill-fated N-Gage console, whose failure was partly attributed to its large “taco” shape. You can make calls on the PSP through a headset or loudspeaker function – no one will have to hold the hulking console to their ear.

May 23rd, 2007 in Mobile | Permalink