Sony Ericsson "PSP" phone could threaten Apple's iOS game revenue
An unconfirmed report claims that Sony Ericsson is at work on a Playstation-branded Android smartphone with a new gaming ecosystem.
Published by Engadget, the report cites "a trusted source" for leaked details of the upcoming device. Described as a cross between "the Samsung Captivate and the PSP Go," the phone would use PSP-style controls instead of a traditional QWERTY keyboard. It could also include a 5 megapixel camera and a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor.
With a potential release as early as October of this year, the phone would pioneer both an Android dedicated gaming ecosystem and the long-rumored PSP phone combination.
The smartphone will reportedly run Android 3.0, also known as Gingerbread. A new area of the Android Market would be created specifically for games, which could be ported from the PSP or PSX library. These games could then be brought to other Android phones, provided they meet certain specification and control requirements.
For its part, Apple has recently been ramping up its focus on mobile gaming. The Cupertino, Calif., company is developing a Game Center social gaming network for iOS 4 that will provide a centralized friend system, leaderboards, and unlockable achievements. The feature was announced in April and is slated for release this fall.
In March, Flurry Analytics reported that Apple's share of the American mobile gaming market had grown from 5% to 19% from 2008 to 2009. Apple's growth cut significantly into the Sony PSP's market share, which dropped nearly half from 20% to 11%.
In April, Apple hired a new games editor, Matt Casamassina, for the iPhone App Store. According to Casamassina, he will "be leading the charge for games on the App Store."
Apple could also be looking to purchase a Chinese game developer to advance further into the mobile gaming market. In early August, rumors said a final deal with Handseeing Information Technology Co is "close," with an estimated price of $148 million.
Published by Engadget, the report cites "a trusted source" for leaked details of the upcoming device. Described as a cross between "the Samsung Captivate and the PSP Go," the phone would use PSP-style controls instead of a traditional QWERTY keyboard. It could also include a 5 megapixel camera and a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor.
With a potential release as early as October of this year, the phone would pioneer both an Android dedicated gaming ecosystem and the long-rumored PSP phone combination.
The smartphone will reportedly run Android 3.0, also known as Gingerbread. A new area of the Android Market would be created specifically for games, which could be ported from the PSP or PSX library. These games could then be brought to other Android phones, provided they meet certain specification and control requirements.
For its part, Apple has recently been ramping up its focus on mobile gaming. The Cupertino, Calif., company is developing a Game Center social gaming network for iOS 4 that will provide a centralized friend system, leaderboards, and unlockable achievements. The feature was announced in April and is slated for release this fall.
In March, Flurry Analytics reported that Apple's share of the American mobile gaming market had grown from 5% to 19% from 2008 to 2009. Apple's growth cut significantly into the Sony PSP's market share, which dropped nearly half from 20% to 11%.
In April, Apple hired a new games editor, Matt Casamassina, for the iPhone App Store. According to Casamassina, he will "be leading the charge for games on the App Store."
Apple could also be looking to purchase a Chinese game developer to advance further into the mobile gaming market. In early August, rumors said a final deal with Handseeing Information Technology Co is "close," with an estimated price of $148 million.
Comments
Another problem is Android users generally don't like paying for apps. Everybody likes to compare the number of apps but actual sales aren't remotely close. I've yet to hear any stories of an Android dev getting rich from their App Store.
This device might appeal to some teens but most don't care enough about gaming to have the design of the phone dedicated to it.
We'll See...
The sun "could" explode too!
No kidding. Whatever.
I don't think Sony will screw this up, its such a good idea in the first place. Very ambitious. They're going to really have to blow it for this not to be a hit.
I'm still stuck on my iPhone, and am not a big enough gamer for this, but damn.
They could still maintain control (or rather - they have to, to make it work) by certifying minimum requirements for phones to have the Android PSN.
I've got a feeling the won't be able to put something together fast enough though. Apple are furiously copying Xbox Live at the moment and they will no doubt have a solid product in place in 12 months.
The sun "could" explode too!
The sun is going to explode
John Gruber
Sony doesn't know what Americans want and expect. See X10 for more info...
I'd rather not look at this as "lost revenue" but more as "strong competition". Competition makes products better. That said, this is Android (where the best stuff is only available on cutting edge and consumers have to constantly buy new phones to stay on the cutting edge), Sony (who seems to be making one majorly bad business decision after another), and PSP (which, let's face it, was a massive flop in almost every respect).
I totally agree! PSP, including the PSP Go, has failed and I don't think PSP Phone, if and when it even comes out, would be any threat to Apple GameCenter initiatives. Interesting thing is that even I believe the gaming for iOS is going to become more prevalent on iPad in future, as that experience is even richer than iPhone/iTouch. I don't Apple needs to be worried here.
iPhone for you, your dad, mom, brother, sister, grandma, grandpa, girlfriend, your neighbor, your dog, cavemen, the 2 a.m. wh*re at Sunset and Vine in Hollywood, everyone...
I'm sure the hardcore playstation boys would love this.
Maybe Microsoft will follow with an Xbox phone...
PSP Phone for Gamers
iPhone for you, your dad, mom, brother, sister, grandma, grandpa, girlfriend, your neighbor, your dog, cavemen, the 2 a.m. wh*re at Sunset and Vine in Hollywood, everyone...
I'm sure the hardcore playstation boys would love this.
Maybe Microsoft will follow with an Xbox phone...
I guess you didn't get the memo: X-Box Live is an integral part of Windows Phone 7.
Their gaming systems were different. The PS2 was nice but after the Wii, we haven't purchased anything Sony(or anything else) after that. I am not much into gaming anymore so I don't really know about the PS3 or the PSP but Sony had done a good job with their games. Although Sony has been off the mark by a good deal lately, they could, in games more than any other arena, pull off something that people want, IMO.
But this is just a rumor, right?
Neal
I guess you didn't get the memo: X-Box Live is an integral part of Windows Phone 7.
i guess you didn't get what i meant. i meant an xbox phone like how sony is rumored to be planning with controls and all... maybe nintendo will also follow with a DS phone...
oh and i wasn't serious about the xbox phone... c'mon man.
wow... whats up with these people... ill believe it when i see it.... it would take a while to catch up to apple... and Nokia hasn't exactly been putting out to great of phones recently...
You have $500 to spend ($100 subsidized):
Would you buy a portable game player that could make phone calls
or
a portable phone that could play games?
,