PSP Phone: The Rumor That Won't Die

If the old saying is correct and there really is "truth to every rumor," then there must be a whole lot of truth to the heavily repeated claim that Sony has plans to release a PSP-branded phone.

Back in 2005, we persistently heard that the company was teaming up with Ericsson, the mobile phone manufacturer, to release a hybrid PSP smartphone. There were even some convincing-looking images to support the story (featured below), and most gamers were convinced that it was merely a matter of time until something materialized.

Then, last month, Ericsson released their own gaming-enabled device, without a Sony logo or PSP game in sight. Needless to say, the new Ericsson F305 falls way short of many gamers' high expectations.

In a recent editorial, Marketing Week reports that the relationship between Sony and the mobile phone maker soured some time ago, and Sony pulled out of the partnership. Rumor has it that the Japanese game company is now planning to design and release the PSP phone entirely on their own.

Considering the success that competitors Apple and Nokia have had by integrating games with their handsets, there is no doubt that a potential market exists for a Sony gaming phone. How well the company can capitalize on this potential market will depend, of course, on whether they can successfully implement the features of a traditional mobile phone.