Sony announces a new firmware upgrade for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, version 3.30. This will enable PSP users to use over 7,000 T-Mobile HotSpot locations for online gaming, surfing the web and downloading podcasts. T-Mobile HotSpot locations will include such locals as; Starbucks coffee shops, Borders bookstores, Hyatt Hotels, and more than 70 major airports across the United States.

This free offer will be a limited time promotional offer for the first six months. T-Mobile HotSpots includes six months of Wi-Fi network access after the 3.30 firmware upgrade and initial log-in. Once the trial period is over, T-Mobile will offer PSP owners the ability to purchase a subscription at a special rate. To qualify for the promotional period PSP users will have to log-in to a T-Mobile HotSpot by March 28, 2008.

“This new offer enables SCEA to take portable gaming and entertainment to a new level of mobility and convenience for PSP owners,” said Peter Dille, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. “With T-Mobile’s service, we’re making it possible for the PSP community to connect in new ways and access the online content they want in more places than ever before. More and more PSP users are going online to challenge each other in multi-player games, and we can now make it more convenient to access online gaming as well as the Internet, showcasing the rich feature set that PSP has to offer.”

Joe Sims, Vice President and General Manager, Broadband Products and Services, T-Mobile USA, said, “Through SCEA’s offer to PSP owners, T-Mobile HotSpot is expanding the ways customers can stay connected. Now the millions of loyal PSP users in the United States will be able to go online at thousands of T-Mobile HotSpot locations across the country that they may already frequent daily.”

Additional Firmware 3.30 Upgrades

The firmware 3.30 update is now available and includes the addition of T-Mobile HotSpot access as well as the following upgrades.

Full-resolution video – PSP users can now view videos saved on a Memory Stick Duo in full resolution (720x480).

Thumbnail support – Thumbnail files for video and RSS content can now be displayed.

PSP system firmware updates can be wirelessly downloaded directly to a PSP system using a Wi-Fi connection; downloaded to a PC from http://www.us.playstation.com/psp and transferred to a PSP system through a USB cable; or installed using upcoming UMD™ software.

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