Sony Mobile Evangelist

I know for a fact that you're already jumping up and down after reading the title of this post but kindly hear me out first, will you? 

Well, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal,Sony is developing two handhelds that will directly target Apple. The leader would be a smartphone built in tandem with Sony Ericsson that could run PlayStation games, presumably PSP games as hinted by Sony last month; it would compete against the game-friendly iPhone.

The new smartphone will be able to download and play PlayStation games as well as connect to the Sony Online Service ( which is going to go online this month) to access a variety of online media.




Reflecting the amount of devotion to the project, Sony is reportedly contributing significantly more effort to the PlayStation phone than it does for most Sony Ericsson projects. In either case, the sources reiterate Sony's recently publicized admission that the PSP Go has struggled and that any future handheld devices would take a more considerate approach to devices with download-only content.

The second device would be a crossover between the PSP, an e-book reader and a netbook and would be aimed at multi-role devices like the iPad, albeit not necessarily a tablet.

Both the devices would tie into the online media service due to go live this month but themselves wouldn't be ready until sometime later in 2010. The Sony Online Service is slated to build upon the company's existing PlayStation network. In addition to providing music, movies, and software for downloading, it is expected to allow connection to a variety of Sony devices, including Bravia televisions, mobile devices like the Sony Ericsson smart phones, and Sony game devices.

If you remember, Sony Ericsson had hinted at a possibility of producing a PSP phone, according to an interview with president Bert Nordberg in tone of the issues of the Mobile World Congress Show Daily.

"We missed the window for high-end and touchscreen devices big time," Nordberg admitted. "Part of the recovery will be much better design and closer work with our partner Sony... In the past there was no tie-up between us, the PSP platform and Sony, but you can expect to hear much more about that."

He also suggested Sony Ericsson will also engage the home environment with upcoming products. "The TV, PC, stereo, and mobile will have a common communications interface -- DLNA," he said.

Sony CEO Howard Stringer had already stated at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that Sony Ericsson phones will connect to the Sony Online Service in the future.

So there you have it folks. Bottomline - Sony is working with Sony Ericsson to develop the new smartphone, with Sony taking a more active role in its development than in the past and we just might see the device before the end of 2010.

Hope this made your day, it certainly made mine! 

Eventually there'll be more info on this, and you know where you'll read it first . You can follow us on facebook and twitter too.

Cheers!

Note: The device in the image above is a concept phone first seen in Sony Ericsson's JavaOne Video .