PSP online network realized in South Korea, complete with streaming content and online gaming servicesSony Computer Entertainment Korea (SCEK) reveals today that the Korean edition of the PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld gaming console will ship on May 2nd with official online support straight out of the box.?This is a very wise move on Sony's part considering the superior Internet service and environment prevalent in South Korea.?PSP IGN elaborates on the ingredients that will make online connectivity happen for the Korean PSP:
"...included in the package is a NESPOT Network Utility UMD disk and a free temporary subscription to the online wireless service. SCEK has partnered with major Korean network provider KT Corp to allow online content via the PlayStation Portable. With the service, gamers can connect to KT's line of NESPOT HotSpots (over 14,000 are installed throughout Korea) or purchase a home subscription to the service for their own wireless network."
NESPOT users will be able to enjoy streaming media thanks to these Wi-Fi hotspots.?Korean PSP games meanwhile will be able to connect online using SCEK's "Infrastructure Mode", a feature that in fact uses KT's services as a backbone.
It will be interesting to see just how well online PSP games will take off in South Korea, considering the factors that make online PC and mobile phone games so successful in the country; many are free to play, for example, and any billing incurred can be easily handled through mobile phone payment options.?SCEK also plans to have only 100,000 PSP units ready for launch in the country, which could curb enthusiasm for the portable device as well.?It seems Sony?is still?hard pressed to?keep up with PSP?production at their manufacturing facilities.
It should be said that online functionality for the North American model that launched late last week also exists, but an unofficial workaround involving the WipEout Pure UMD game is currently required to make such connectivity possible.?Perhaps more interesting for those of us in North America for the time being is just when exactly our PSPs will receive official online support.
Article Link: PSP IGN
