Sony Ericsson talks possibility of 'PSP phone'

News

Michael French Sep 12 2007, 2:15pm

New games device must also be a "credible phone" if launched, says SE president.

Sony Ericsson's president Miles Flint has gone on the record to talk about the company's supposed move towards creating a games-focused mobile calling it "an area of possible future activity".

His comments were published in the FT and come off the back of details circulated last week by Mobile Entertainment magazine that Sony Ericsson would launch a new games device in February.

ME's understands the device to be launched in February at the Mobile World Congress trade show is not due to be branded with PlayStation or PSP, though Flint's comments back up our assertion that SE is working on a parallel project with its console sister company.

SE, 50 per cent owned by Sony itself, already produces Bravia-branded handsets for Japan, taking the name from its parent firm's line of high-end TVs, and already uses the Walkman and Cybershot logo on other phones, a move that has reportedly help the company double margins in the last three years.

However, whatever the choice, Flint - who steps down as president in two months - said the priority for the device was clear: “We need to make sure that it is a credible phone, and be sure we are justified in putting that identity on it.