Owners of Sony"s PlayStation Portable handheld console will soon be able to make voice and video calls over a wireless internet connection using a soon-to be-released camera and microphone. Gamers will be able to call other PSP owners, PCs, fixed lines and mobiles thanks to software developed by BT. Initially the service will only be available in the UK and will only work on home or one of the 2,000 BT wireless hotspots.
According to BT, the software will eventually be distributed to telecoms companies in 100 other countries. The new PSP service takes advantage of BT"s 21 Century Network (21CN), which is specifically designed to use Internet Protocol technology. Eventually, 21CN will replace all the existing networks. More details of the BT service will be released at the Leipzig Games Convention in August, whilst Sony"s add-on camera and microphone for the PSP, known as the Go camera, will hit shelves in the UK on May 25th.