PS Phone to launch in Feb 2011 – report
Unveiling set for December.
Sony will launch the heavily rumoured PlayStation Phone in February 2011, a new report claims.
It will be officially unveiled on 9th December, PocketGamer reckons (thanks, VG247).
This latest rumour was sparked by French blog Nowereelse.fr, which has received an image of what looks like a press invitation to a Sony event.
It shows the four famous PlayStation symbols next to an image of a phone.
The invite reads: "The most awaited event of the past 10 years." Hasn't Sony heard of the X-Factor final?
According to website MobileCrunch, the phone will be formerly launched next February.
Apparently the phone's screen is "on par" with the iPhone's Retina display. Sony's Bravia technology is said to have "trickled" in here, with Sony Ericsson considering leveraging the Bravia brand when highlighting the display.
Games will be priced at mobile game rates, not PSP rates. Sony Ericsson currently has the off-contract price somewhere around $500 (£318 approx), with that purchase including five free games.
The PlayStation Phone, along with the PSP2, is one of the worst kept secrets in gaming.
On Monday Sony Ericsson CEO Bert Nordberg said, "There's a lot of smoke, and I tell you there must be a fire somewhere.
"Sony has an extremely strong offering in the gaming market, and that's very interesting. Sony is of course a very strong brand, and why shouldn't we use that? Gaming, including content, is a very interesting proposition."
According to the Wall Street Journal, the PlayStation Phone will carry the Sony Ericsson Xperia brand, run Google Android and offer games through an application.
Nordberg plans a big splash at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona this February 2011 – could that tie in with the rumoured launch?
The PlayStation Phone has long been speculated. It appeared to be on the verge of confirmation last month when a series of target images were leaked and numerous reports backed them up.