Sony PSP phone buzz resurfaces again

Although Sony has publicly stated it has no plans to introduce a mobile phone based on its PlayStation Portable gaming platform, the rumor continues to percolate--now, respected Japanese publication Nikkei Business Daily reports the electronics giant will establish a dedicated team to develop such a handset, bringing together members of its Sony Ericsson mobile handset division and Sony Computer Entertainment unit. Sony is said to be worried by the growing threat posed by Apple's iPhone and the myriad software developers creating games for the smartphone--earlier this month, media research firm Screen Digest reported [1] Apple accounted for $100 million in gaming revenues in the second half of 2008, and iPhone titles now represent 10 percent of the North American mobile games segment.  

A Sony Computer Entertainment spokesperson maintains there are currently "no plans" to introduce a PSP phone, but notes that many elements of Sony's software platform, such as the XMB media navigation system found in the existing PSP device and PlayStation 3 console system, will continue to be implemented across a range of Sony products. The PSP phone rumors date back to 2007, when the company first filed a patent application depicting a portable game device boasting mobile phone capabilities.

For more on the resurgent PSP phone rumors:
- read this Telegraph article [2]

Related articles:
Worldwide mobile game [3] revenues grow to $5.4 billion in 2008
‘Known' titles equate to better mobile game [4] sales