Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

TOKYO (AFP) — Sony said on Tuesday it will add the Skype telephone service to its slim PlayStation Portable handheld console in Japan this month, enabling users to make free or low-cost telephone calls.

Sony will start selling microphones for the PSP-2000 in the Japanese market on March 19 as part of its efforts to broaden the appeal of its video game consoles amid fierce competition with rival Nintendo.

After a system software update planned for March 18, PSP users will be able to chat for free to other Skype users and, for a charge, call landlines and mobile phones anywhere in the world, Sony’s game unit said in a statement.

The service was started for the PSP in Europe and the United States in January but Sony was forced to delay the launch in Japan because the microphones did not meet the Skype specifications.

Skype, which was bought by eBay in October of 2004, uses a peer-to-peer (P2P) network to enable users to make free Internet telephone calls to one another through their computers.

Users can also use the service to call landlines or mobile phones at low rates.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Since the official confirmation that Skype is coming to PSP, the slim only, team N00bz have released the beta Furikup, a free homebrew open standard alternative to proprietary Skype that works on both the PSP Slim and regular PSP, or Phat PSP units.
Here are some of Furikup’s best features according to Noobz.eu:(Noobs got hammered I think now off line.)

It’s free software - in both the beer, and speech senses.
You can use it anywhere in the world, subject to signing-up to a suitable local SIP-based voice-over-IP provider and being near a usable wifi access point. In many countries, you can find those for free or nearly-free - e.g. with SIPGate, in the UK, you can call to your PSP from any standard phone (landline or cellphone) for just the standard local call cost, and from PSP to another SIP phone (another PSP or a PC) for free.
It runs on both slim and fat PSPs.
It uses open standards, for maximum compatibility with other phone systems.
You can use a Go!Cam (Chotto Shot), Talkman microphone, or SOCOM-style headset for audio input. (And even if you don’t have any of those, you can still send audio from a WAV file in a pinch).
It’s still pretty much beta software - the audio quality needs some work (but it is usable), the UI isn’t very pretty, and video calls aren’t working (yet!). But it works, and it’s a nice demo of what is possible.

Since this is open source homebrew software, there are endless possibilities as to what inventive minds could do with this engine. We’d like to see a much nicer GUI (we suck at UIs!), and maybe a custom firmware plugin to use the engine as a teamspeak-style add-on feature for online games. Go on, go crazy and show us what you can do with it - you have our blessing!

They also note that the application contains code from the following projects:

• oRTP library by Simon Morlat and Lovadina Nicola
• oSIP and eXoSIP libraries by Aymeric Moizard

To download furikup0.1.zip (provided by exophase.com) untill N00BZ comes online.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

TOKYO, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that it would introduce Skype(TM) features to the new slim and light PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) handheld entertainment system (PSP-2000 series). More than 246 million members are registered for the use of this communications software, which enables users to communicate with other Skype users around the world over the Internet. Calls between Skype users are free of charge.
By introducing Skype on PSP, the following features and services will be made available to PSP users (*1) (*2):
– Free voice calls between Skype users
— Skype contact list management (view existing contacts, add new ones)
— Skype presence (see which friends are online and available to talk)
— SkypeOut(TM) calls to make calls to landlines and mobile phones anywhere in the world (requires the purchase of Skype credit)
— Optional SkypeIn(TM) number that lets users receive calls on Skype from landlines and mobiles anywhere in the world (requires the purchase of Skype credit)
— View and modify Skype settings and account details (including username creation, SkypeOut settings, voicemail settings and call forwarding)

PSP users worldwide will be able to start using Skype features and services through a simple system software update scheduled in late January, After updating the PSP system software, a Skype icon will be added to the Network category in the home menu. PSP users who do not yet have a Skype username can register by clicking the icon and following the instructions. PSP users who already have a Skype username can immediately sign in by clicking the Skype icon and entering their username and password. SCEI will deploy various measures to meet users’ demand and vigorously promote the expansion of the PSP platform as a handheld entertainment system to enjoy a variety of interactive digital entertainment.
* For more information on Skype, please visit www.skype.com

(*1) To enjoy Skype features on PSP, users will need Memory Stick Duo(TM), a wireless Internet connection and a Skype-compatible audio input device.
(*2) In order to receive calls, users must be connected to the Internet and signed in through the Skype screen on PSP.

Source: voipcentral.org

We have some good news for Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) users. From now, they can use the device not only for playing games but also making VoIP and Video calls to their friends, family and relatives.

Developed by BT, the Sony PSP provides basic wireless broadband communication services such as video and voice calls, and messaging to the growing number of UK users.

The updated PSP service will support only home or BT wireless hotspots, which are located in the public places in England. As of now, there are nearly 2000 BT hotspots in England.

Steve Andrews, the Chief of Mobility and Convergence at BT commented,

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 BTs technology.

Earlier this month, Austria-based Jajah has added a web interface to enable Sony PS3 (PlayStation 3) to initiate calls. The Sony PS3 is a major competitor of Microsofts Xbox 360 and Nintendos Wii in the market.

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