Sony preparing to unleash enhanced PlayStation Network

by Stevie Smith - Jun 26 2009, 16:00

Not only is Sony Computer Entertainment supposedly always on the cusp of announcing sweeping price cuts to its PlayStation 3, or teetering on the verge of unveiling a new PlayStation 3 Slim, but now it’s also planning a massively expanded version of the PlayStation Network (PSN). 

Citing comments made by Sony president Kaz Hirai to Fortune magazine, videogame site PSX Extreme offers that an enhanced iteration of PSN that’s compatible with a wealth of Sony-branded consumer electronics – not just the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable – is on track for an official arrival within the next 12 months.

Supporting connectivity and communication for various Sony products, such as digital televisions, mobile phone handsets, and other gadgetry, the new and improved online platform could well be ready to begin delivering its services during 2010’s first quarter.

Although clearly unwilling to divulge too many details ahead of time, Hirai told Fortune that the upcoming expansion is being built around the backbone running through the existing PlayStation Network.

And, in terms of specific advantages associated with the new service, the Sony boss offered it up as a more open and wide-ranging platform designed to provide aspects such as image transfers between digital cameras and televisions, the displaying and editing of video, and the sharing of content between friends.

The emergence of Sony’s plans for PSN’s future comes only a matter of weeks after main market rival Microsoft Corp. used its E3 Expo keynote address to announce a service expansion of its own for the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Microsoft’s impending improvements include the introduction of full Xbox 360 software downloads via Games On Demand, 1080p high-definition content, on-demand instant movie streaming, and the integration of social interaction through Facebook, Xbox Live Party and Last.fm.

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