The new PSP 3.90 firmware is here bringing with it Skype capabilities. Only PSP Slim owners can use the service, so if you have the original fat models, you’re sh*t out of luck. Hey, it’s not a upgrade from Sony without there being some kind of catch. The PSP headset will cost $20 (The SOCOM headset should work still) and you’ll also need the Remote Control from the PSP headphones, which cost $30.
You’ll be able to talk to other Skype owners for free and you can buy Skype credit or the monthly service to talk to landlines and cell phones. There are a few other services Skype is offering, which you can check out in the PR after the jump.
I don’t know about you, but I’m so ready to bring back side talking now.
Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced the launch
of Skype™ on PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, enabling PSP-2000
owners to make free calls over the Internet to anyone using Skype
anywhere in the world, as well as call and receive calls from any
landline or mobile phone for a small fee. This new functionality –
available through a free system software upgrade (ver. 3.90) released
today – connects the PSP-2000 user base with the more than 276 million
registered Skype users around the world.
The new slimmer and lighter PSP system can now be used as a social
communications device, whether you want to call a buddy before playing
SOCOM together or just want to stay connected with your friends and
family when you’re on the go. The addition of Skype expands PSP’s
broad set of entertainment capabilities and demonstrates how SCEA
continues to add innovative services that benefit PSP owners.
How it works
· Download and install the 3.90 firmware upgrade to the
PSP-2000 system.
· Connect the PSP system to the Internet at a Wi-Fi hotspot*.
· Attach a PSP Headset ($19.99 MSRP) and the Remote Control
from the PSP-2000 Headphones ($29.99), and insert a Memory Stick Duo
to save the Skype software.
· Access the Skype/Sign In icon within the Network category
of the XMB menu. First-time Skype users need to create a free account,
while existing Skype users can simply enter their username/password.
· To make a call, either access the Contacts icon and click
on a name or scroll to the Dial icon.
Communicating with non-Skype numbers
While calling other Skype users is free, PSP owners can also purchase
Skype Credit to make SkypeOut™ calls to landline and mobile phone
numbers around the world. Skype Credit can be bought online at
http://skype.com, accessible on your PSP system or a computer.
There are two ways to pay for SkypeOut:
· Pay As You Go: Place a pre-paid amount of Skype Credit in
your account and then refill it as you need it. It’s just 2.1 cents
per minute to Skype’s 30 most popular destinations around the world.
· Pay Monthly: Sign up for the Skype Pro™ premium
subscription for just $3.00/month. This gives you free calling to
landlines and mobile phones within the U.S. and Canada (with no
connection fee**); a discounted rate for a personal online number
(SkypeIn™) to receive calls; voicemail; and other features, such as
the ability to pay nothing per minute for local calls when travelling
to 29 other countries (connection fee** applies).
You can also purchase a personal online number so you can receive
calls wherever you are in the world with a subscription to SkypeIn for
$60.00/year or $18.00/three months (save $36 on this feature with a
Skype Pro subscription).
When using Skype, PSP owners can also view and modify their Skype
settings and account details (including username creation, SkypeOut
settings, voicemail settings and call forwarding), manage their
contact list, and see which friends are online and available to talk.
