AfterDawn: News

Skype is coming for Japanese PSPs

Sony Japan has announced that Japanese PSP gamers will be able to use Skype services beginning in two weeks, March 18th.

The company also said that the software will be included in the upcoming Firmware update for the system and that Sony will be "releasing official microphones to coincide with the communications service."



The service was originally supposed to hit Japanese PSPs in early January but was hit with delays due to Sony hardware failing to meet Skype specifications.

Also unveiled were new LE PSP bundles made specifically for Japan. "The PSP Matte Bronze Value Pack will go on sale April 24, priced JPY 23,800, and will come with the handheld, a pouch, hand strap, cloth, 32MB Memory Stick Duo and D Terminal AV cable."

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 4 Mar 2008 17:50

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• 12 comments

• tripplite

  good now i can call my friends in japan on there psp's!
  *not*
  i dont think japs will like it that much, since they pretty much all have cell phones...

  4.3.2008 18:19 #1

• Ryu77

  Originally posted by tripplite: good now i can call my friends in japan on there psp's!
  *not*
  i dont think japs will like it that much, since they pretty much all have cell phones...I don't know about that...
  
  Skype is a VoIP service, so that translates to much cheaper call rates when compared to cell phone call rates. Especially when calling overseas. Skype isn't limited to only calling PSP's. You can call anything that is Skype enabled. Obviously Skype is a free service from PC to PC as it runs exactly like any messenger client (Yahoo, Windows Live etc.). There are even some cell phones emerging with Skype built in. So instead of making traditional calls, you can make a VoIP call, using your cell phone via the internet capabilities on your phone. This equals huge savings. For example, in Australia there is a company called 3 that offer a cell phone with 4,000 minutes worth of Skype voice calls, 10,000 instant messages and $120 worth of regular call credit every month for only $29 a month.
  
  I am interested to see how this goes.

  4.3.2008 21:26 #2

• tripplite

  Quote:Skype is a VoIP service, so that translates to much cheaper call rates when compared to cell phone call rates. Especially when calling overseas. Skype isn't limited to only calling PSP's. You can call anything that is Skype enabled. Obviously Skype is a free service from PC to PC as it runs exactly like any messenger client (Yahoo, Windows Live etc.). There are even some cell phones emerging with Skype built in. So instead of making traditional calls, you can make a VoIP call, using your cell phone via the internet capabilities on your phone. This equals huge savings. For example, in Australia there is a company called 3 that offer a cell phone with 4,000 minutes worth of Skype voice calls, 10,000 instant messages and $120 worth of regular call credit every month for only $29 a month.
  
  I am interested to see how this goes.
  
  Quote:
  Skype isn't limited to only calling PSP's
  during the dial up era i was one of the first ones in my town to start making phone calls with my PC!
  
  i know what skype is, but have you ever been to japan?
  they are pretty fond of their cell phones!
  

  
  

  5.3.2008 09:09 #3

• Ryu77

  Originally posted by tripplite: i know what skype is, but have you ever been to japan?
  they are pretty fond of their cell phones!Yes, I have... More than once.
  

  
  
  "A winner sees an answer for every problem... A loser sees a problem with every answer"

  5.3.2008 16:17 #4

• tripplite

  ha ha ha aha!!
  i forgot you had japanese symbols (?) in your siggy....TE HE how dumb of me....i still doubt the high usage of skype on psp in japan....maybe with the younger kids who dont have a phone line setup
  
  peace!
  
  -tripplite
  

  
  

  5.3.2008 23:21 #5

• Ryu77

  Originally posted by tripplite: ha ha ha aha!!
  i forgot you had japanese symbols (?) in your siggy....TE HE how dumb of me....i still doubt the high usage of skype on psp in japan....maybe with the younger kids who dont have a phone line setup
  
  peace!
  
  -trippliteNo problem. The Japanese Kanji in my signature means Ryu, which is Japanese for Dragon. The same character is used in Chinese for the same meaning (Dragon) but it's pronounced Lung in Cantonese and Long in Mandarin.
  
  In regards to the Skype enabled PSP, I am also not sure how the Japanese will welcome this. As I said earlier I am interested to see how this goes. I have seen a few Skype enabled devices popping up lately.
  

  
  
  "A winner sees an answer for every problem... A loser sees a problem with every answer"

  6.3.2008 00:31 #6

• tripplite

  one thing is for sure japan.USA are the best testing ground for new products/ideas!
  
  -tripplite
  ~i get your siggy now!!
  

  
  

  13.3.2008 22:04 #7

• borhan9

  This is a plus all around.

  22.4.2008 00:08 #8

• Ryu77

  Originally posted by borhan9: This is a plus all around.Why do you do this? borhan9, do you seriously prefer commenting on old news articles rather than current news? Also, what's with the one sentence comments?
  
  I don't mean to be rude but when I look at my subscribed threads and I see a bunch of old news threads that have been updated only to find out that the same person (being you) has left a one sentence comment it kind of gets irritating. I am usually quite tolerant but I really don't understand why you do this... ?
  

  
  
  "Dream... Believe... Achieve"
  
  PS3 compatible video creation thread... mkv2vob, tsMuxeR etc.: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/621809
  The complete HD (Blu-ray/HD-DVD) back-up and transcoding thread.: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/639346

  22.4.2008 00:46 #9

• varnull

  Yeah.. I thought we had been here before.. sure I was that we had been down this road a few months ago....Thinking.. oh no.. here we go again with remembering things that haven't happened yet... and then I saw the date on the article and all was revealed. ;)
  

  
  
  Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work....

  22.4.2008 01:00 #10

• borhan9

  To Vurnall, Rhy77 & Whoever else,
  
  Here is my explanation i hope you understand where i am coming from.
  
  http://my.afterdawn.com/borhan9/blog_entry.cfm/2829/explanation
  
  Thanxs in advance
  

  Edited by DVDBack23
  
  
  "the mediocre teacher tells. the good teacher explains. the superior teacher demonstrates. the great teacher inspires."- William Aruthur Ward

  22.4.2008 06:30 #11

• Ryu77

  borhan9, I have posted my thoughts on your explanation blog. I believe I have now said all that I need to on this matter. You can keep doing whatever you feel you like... But just remember what you are doing right now will likely keep you separated from the rest of us. Take care buddy, See you in ummmm... June! :-P
  

  
  
  "Dream... Believe... Achieve"
  
  PS3 compatible video creation thread... mkv2vob, tsMuxeR etc.: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/621809
  The complete HD (Blu-ray/HD-DVD) back-up and transcoding thread.: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/639346

  22.4.2008 09:14 #12