BT, Sony Team Up

LONDON -- BT and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) have signed a groundbreaking deal to transform the PSP (PlayStation®Portable) gaming device by adding wireless broadband communications functions, including high quality handheld video calls, voice calls and messaging.

The two leading companies signed a four-year contract to develop a raft of extra features for the successful PSP, which has already shipped over 8 million in Europe and 24 million globally.

BT will be SCEE's lead wireless communications partner across SCEE territories * and is already working with other communications providers to deliver this exciting service. BT and SCEE will initially promote the offer in the UK.

BT has developed the ability to provide high quality video and voice calls over the internet as part of its world-leading 21CN project. This partnership intends to integrate PSP with the BT Broadband video and voice ‘softphone’ products already available in the market today. In the following months, additional features will be launched to enable calls and messages to PCs, fixed lines and mobiles.

Steve Andrews, BT chief, Mobility and Convergence, said: “The combination of SCEE and BT working together is a natural fit. Sony is a world-class company producing some of the world’s most innovative electronic devices and BT is at the forefront of communications with the 21CN global platform. The PSP is an excellent device for both gaming and communications, because of its high quality screen and audio capabilities. With over 8 million PSPs shipped across Europe, we are very excited by the opportunity to give customers a whole new communications experience, connecting and seeing friends across the world through BT’s technology.”

David Reeves, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, said: “It is very exciting for us to be partnering with BT on such a unique project. The opportunity to combine our market leading expertise with BT’s knowledge in communications opens up many possibilities and we look forward to bringing many exciting communication functions to PSP fans.”

BT Group plc (NYSE: BT; London: BTA)

Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE)