gadgets
Sony's 2006 PlayStation Phone Patent
Posted by Luke Plunkett at 3:20 PM on March 7, 2008
Yeah, we're a little sick of the rumour merry-go-round on this one too, but it's OK. This one's not a rumour. It's a patent application, and those are much more exciting! This application's for a gaming phone, which Sony filed back in 2006. While it looks like a double-sided phone, it's actually packing an iPhone-like full-screen touchscreen, allowing the device to emulate the interface of both a Sony Ericsson phone and a PSP. Course, this has never actually turned up, and in the iPhone's wake probably never will, but sometimes it's nice to just close your eyes and imagine what could have been, you know?
ORIENTATION BASED MULTIPLE MODE MECHANICALLY VIBRATED TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY [USPTO, via Unwired View, via Pocketgamer]

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Soldrak
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@Netnavi: Apple has made more money with its iPods and iPhones than Nintendo with its relatively small market of gamer geeks has made with its DS/Wii/Games combined.
Soldrak
Soldrak
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@budash2: Why the hostility? Looks like we have another Sony fan-tard! Ring the counterssss!
Soldrak
flintstryker
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
people will buy it, hope it has an oled screen and supports video calls. Thatd be awesome
flintstryker
bluemanrule
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@Netnavi,
Since when does a gaming device need analog sticks? The Playstation brought analog sticks into popularity but wasn't the first. The Colecovision (which I owned), even the Atari 2600 had an analog controller. The NES/Master System, and SNES/Genesis did not have default analog controllers. I think that the DS shows that an analog stick isn't necessary.
Check out GTTVs interview at Dice. Cliffy B made the point that he thinks game controllers are too complicated. If Sony truly wants a pHH (phone/handheld) hybrid to permeate the market, they'll make it confoundingly simple to use.
bluemanrule
TKWarrior
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
OK, first check out Sony's Xperia X1 phone that's coming out later this year:
[gizmodo.com]
Now picture a slide-out control pad instead of that keyboard. I can see that as a viable PSP phone.
Having the controls as part of the touch screen does not make sense. Not only are you taking away valuable screen space, but I would prefer actual tactile buttons then smearing my thumbs hoping for the right response.
I've tried some emulators on my bud's iPhone and I was not impressed. It's great for an occasional diversion, but I could not see using that control scheme for a phone marketed towards gamers.
TKWarrior
Chadders
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
I'd probably buy it, as it'd be cheaper than the iDS.
Chadders
bangbangblah
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@LittleBigPlaneteer: Yeah, and now that I think of it, it's probably also cheaper in terms of manufacturing.
bangbangblah
LittleBigPlaneteer
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@bangbangblah:
I think everyone would agree with you. I think the main reason you're seeing a touchscreen (aside from the whole iphone craze) is because it's not easy to accomate a handheld gaming system into a phone. Having a touch screen interface eliminates that buy doing both control schemes
LittleBigPlaneteer
Netnavi
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@budash2: ha I don't know. lol
Nintendo just has better press. Frieking rich companies. I wish I was rich.
Netnavi
toejam316
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
You know, if they actually did release this, and a exploit for homebrew was found, I would snap this up.
Yes, thats right, a exploit for homebrew.
I don't know about you guys, but I love me my IR Shell ( I just hope that someone will port it).
toejam316
budash2
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@Netnavi: Then the iPhone or PSP? Most definitely PSP...iPhone and the new SDK...I don't know.
But don't forget that Sony's revenue is somewhere around 80 billion dollars. What's Nintendo's?
budash2
bangbangblah
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
Am I the only one who likes straight up buttons a hell of a lot better than touch screens? It feels just so more concrete / satisfying. Especially when playing a game.
bangbangblah
Netnavi
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
Of course there is no phone aspect..nevermind.
Netnavi
Netnavi
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@Soldrak: @budash2: And Nintendo will print more money than both combined with the DS.
Netnavi
LittleBigPlaneteer
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
*raises hand*
Why didn't any concept think of this design!? It actually seems decent
LittleBigPlaneteer
budash2
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@Soldrak: And Sony will eat you up and spit you in a toilet bowl where you belong. And Apple will agree that it was a good decision. The End.
budash2
Soldrak
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
Lol, Apple is going to eat this and spit it in the toilet bowl where it belongs.
Soldrak
psycoking
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@baked ham: @JasonR: While I'm sure Sony would do a much better job at making a game phone than Nokia did, I am still of the mind that convergence is a very bad idea in general. When companies begin to mix different product types the resulting hybrid usually ends up under performing in each of the individual fields it was meant to conquer. Its a great idea, but I can see the PSP phone sucking as both a mobile gaming device and as a phone.
psycoking
Peryite
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
I'll pass.
Then again, I'm one of those who just uses his phone as a phone.
Peryite
Netnavi
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@Old-school Sonic fanboy: lol. As long as you admit that going forward we need two analog nubs on the psp (or any other handheld) That is the number one complaint that should be addressed on future handhelds.
I mean, they don't have to but if they are ever going to put FPS games on them then I think it's needed.
Netnavi
Sailorcancer
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
Don't get it but whatev. Ericson phones are usually GSM, and I'm not going to go from CDMA to GSM.
Not even for Sony.
Sailorcancer
Old-school Sonic fanboy
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@Netnavi: Are you questioning my gaming...hood?
Old-school Sonic fanboy
Netnavi
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
Psh! And you guys call yourselves gamers! Hello!? No Dual analogs?
Heck no I aint buying that!
Get with the times engineers. we need 2 analog sticks (nubs?) Anyway, if we ever do get a PSP 2 then I hope we get an upgrade that is worth it. I can only imagine how good graphics have come in handhelds and I wonder how far we will get with the newer ones.
Also , game phones don't really work that well. Though the Voip on psp might be good. Does the PSP work with a BT headset?
Netnavi
BPM X: Soul Eraser
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
I'd buy it, if the price was right.
BPM X: Soul Eraser
TheApprentice
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
*Raises both Hands*
I'm definitely waiting for the Playstation Phone...To upgrade from my 3 yr old Nokia :P
I would go iPhone, but Apple did stupid with AT&T..
TheApprentice
Amazon_Chris
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
*Raises hand.* *Pitches tent outside of Best Buy to wait...*
Amazon_Chris
JasonR
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
I'll take one. It's getting kind of old that anytime the subject of a gaming phone comes up, that some people automatically think that it will fail because the N-gage did. Nokia doesn't know gaming like Sony, Nintendo, or even MS does. If any of those companies made a gaming phone, it would be way more successful than the N-gage. I just want one all-in-one phone, gaming, and media device because I don't want to have to carry more than one device.
JasonR
baked ham
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@psycoking: Just because the n-Gage did it wrong (very wrong) doesn't mean that a handheld gaming device couldn't also have a cell phone functionality, and do it right. The main problems with the n-Gage were that it was a pain in the ass to change the games, no good games came out for it, and T-Mobile wasn't a very good cell service provider. A PSP with built-in cell phone, the choice to use it with any service provider, and the existing and ever-expanding library of PSP games? Total win, all around. Too bad it'll never happen.
baked ham
Old-school Sonic fanboy
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
@psycoking: I'm sure most people want to forget that.
Lets not forget though that Sony has experience with both phones and portable gaming.
Old-school Sonic fanboy
c-lin' Fanboy
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
They can't release it now because they would then be accused of copying Apple.
c-lin' Fanboy
Patient
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
*raises both hands*
Patient
psycoking
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
*keeps hands in pocket*
If I'm going to buy a phone this outrageous, I'd rather get an iPhone. My phone and my moble gaming device should stay separate. Or am I the only one who remembers the N-Gage?
psycoking
SolidOni_ds
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
*raises hand as well*
SolidOni_ds
Daniel Páez
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
°desperately raises hand°
Daniel Páez
music2134
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
asking if i am GOING to buy it...
pshhh...
i already have it! >_<
music2134
Old-school Sonic fanboy
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
*raises hand*
Old-school Sonic fanboy
ffmusicdj
Posted 10:28 PM 19/3/08
Who is really gonna buy this? Raise your hands if you are...
ffmusicdj