By Sharla Sikes

It’s not the first game console to wind up with VoIP connectivity potential, but the Sony Play Station Portable is the latest video game console to feature voice-over-IP capabilities, and will use Skype services to do so.

Sony plans to make official the announcement at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but let the world know a little early this time. Sony’s CES site exclaims: “Call friends, talk trash to fellow gamers or catch up with acquaintances via Skype for PSP.”

Sony Europe partnered with British Telecom early in 2007 to create the PSP’s communications tools. The partnership yielded Go!Messenger video chat and instant messenger, which is expected to be available in Europe later this month via Memory Stick or download. Both Go!Messenger and the PSP Skype function should bring Sony some tidy profits in selling its microphone headsets and webcams.

The PSP has faced some bumps in the road over its three-year life; could the Skype function be an effort by Sony to make the handheld video game more attractive, along with price cuts, PlayStation3 connectivity and a new slimmer profile?

Or possibly, it could be a move on Sony’s part to pre-empt rivals Apple and Microsoft, who have plans for handheld PCs and Xbox upgrades, respectively.

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