Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) has sent word that PSP users in the United States of America who have downloaded the version 3.30 firmware upgrade, will be able to play compatible games online, surf the Web, and download podcasts at more than 7,000 T-Mobile HotSpot locations, including select Starbucks coffee shops, Borders bookstores, Hyatt Hotels, and more than 70 major airports.
Peter Dille, Senior VP of Marketing, SCEA comments, “This new offer enables SCEA to take portable gaming and entertainment to a new level of mobility and ease for PSP owners. With T-Mobile’s service, we are making it feasible for the PSP community to connect in new ways and access the online content they want in more places than ever before. More and more PSP users are going online to challenge each other in multi-player games, and we can now make it more well-situated to access online gaming as well as the Internet, showcasing the rich feature set that PSP has to offer.”
Joe Sims, VP & GM, Broadband Products & Services, T-Mobile USA says, “Through SCEA’s offer to PSP owners, T-Mobile HotSpot is expanding the ways consumers can stay connected. Now the millions of loyal PSP users in the United States will be able to go online at thousands of T-Mobile HotSpot locations across the country that they may already frequent every day
However, the offer is free only for six-month period after which T-Mobile will offer PSP owners an option to purchase a subscription at a special rate. It remains to be seen whether they will extend this offer to the European and the Japanese gamers.