PSP becoming an uber-gadget?

PSP will soon expand it’s functionality and offer access to even more services. As Sony has announced, European owners of the PSP will soon have access to three new services, all prefixed with Go! accordingly.

Go!Cam is a snap-on, 1.3 mega pixel camera with 180 degree rotating lens, with integrated microphone. Go!Cam attaches to PSP by USB connector, and is fixed down with a screw on the Go!Cam base. With it Sony will deliver Go!Edit software for editing the content. Go!Cam should be in stores on May 16th in Europe and Australia, and it’s price should be approximately 50 Euros or 35 Pounds. Go!Cam will require at least firmware 2.8 as Sony disclosed.

Go!Explore is a satellite GPS navigation for PSP, offered by Sony in collaboration with TeleAtlas and NavNGo. It will support 11 languages and will be available in 7 different geographical locations. Go!Explore is also a snap-on GPS reciever device (Released in Japan in December 2006), that will come along with software on UMD. Price for Go!Explore has not been disclosed by Sony yet.

Go!Messenger, last but probably the best upgrade for PSP so far, will offer text, voice and video communication with your friends. It has been developed by Sony and British Telecom, and will be utilizing Go!Cam for full functionality. It will allow calls to be made between PSP owners using WiFi connection. Service will be available to all PSP owners as a firmware upgrade scheduled for January 2008. Allegedly, calls between PSP users will be - free, because Go!Messenger will be utilizing VoIP.

“With Go!Messenger, PSP is pushing new boundaries, adding unique communication functionalities to all the existing multimedia experiences,” said Stephane Hareau, PSP European Marketing Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “Enabling more than 8.5 Million PSP users across the SCEE region to communicate with each other, through Video or Voice chat, truly confirms the always evolving nature and potential of PSP.”