PSONE GOES CELLULAR
August 1, 2000

Sony Corp and NTT DoCoMo revealed plans on Tuesday to develop services in Japan linking DoCoMo's i-mode internet access and Sony's PSone starting this winter. The companies also plan broadband connectivity.

DoCoMo will use the deal to boost use of i-Mode, which is currently at 10 million users, with 40,000-50,000 signing up every day.

How Sony will benefit from this deal remains to be seen. As it is, PSX sales for the previous quarter were only 630,000 worldwide, and it's doubtful PSone sales will see much of an increase. Granted, PSX sales in total are over 70 million, indicating solid past success for the Playstation, but one would think the company would want to get its PS2 focus more on internet connectivity. One possible benefit may be that people who never wanted to get a PSone because they a) own a PSX and/or b) own or plan to own a PS2 now have a reason to get PSone.

Very few specifics are currently available. Pricing and games are uknown. Sony even admitted to not knowing exactly what the companies are planning at this time. More on this as it develops.