It wasn't exactly a well-kept secret, but Sony's new handheld is called the "PlayStation Vita." It was once code-named the Sony NGP, or "Next Generation Portable," but the company has decided the device will be called "The Vita."
Vita means "Life" in Latin, and was chosen, according to Sony, beacuse they feel the device "enables a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. SCE is aiming to transform every aspect of user's daily life into an entertainment experience."
Along with the name, we learned that the Vita's internet provider will only be AT&T, and we learned the name of the device's connection suite. It will be called "Near."
"AT&T's mobile broadband network excels at delivering data with high speeds nationwide, which is what we need for powering the social and connectivity features built into the PlayStation Vita portable entertainment system," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. "PlayStation Vita will give users the opportunity to engage and connect with one another while delivering the kind of rich and immersive gaming experiences unimaginable on any other portable device on the market today."
We'll have more details as they become available.
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girr67
i think i see what sony is doing puting this one on att .... sony already has the ericson for verison so they are covering the market so thay get more people
xidiom
I created an account just to write a response to this. I think the PS vita is the coolest gadget I have ever seen. I love everything about it...except the AT&T exclusive deal. Yes it is a big enough deal that I won't buy it. I want something that does everything and this is the closest thing that I can find that really does everything I could want it to do. 3G is important. It's amazing but I hate AT&T and not just because the things that have been mentioned about the crappy customer service but they are just a bad company that cares noting about their customers privacy. I mean they even lobbied the government to pass a law to prevent users from suing them for violating their privacy. So they are unreliable, difficult to deal with, have poor customer service and they like to turn their customers information over to the government for no good reason. Pleas G4 pass it a long that no one likes this and it is a bad idea for a device that can be as revolutionary as this device has the potential for being.
BertSaxby
"Near" as in nearly works.
Tobikun
Frankly you're all taking this too far. If you don't want to deal with the AT&T service then just get the cheaper Wi-Fi only model. I was an AT&T customer and frankly it's not that great. Honestly I'm just sick of coompanies trying to turn these things into something they're not. "Oh let's give it 3G, a gps, web browser, etc." It's not a fricking smart phone. It's a handheld gaming system and that's what the companies need to treat these like. All in all the Vita isn't grabbing my attention that much, but it was the same way with PSP for me. Plus I never get a system at launch, too many bugs and usually not a good enough game lineup to interest me. Time's gonna tell on this one guys.
SC20
Well, for myself when it comes to handheld gaming I very seldom play my current PSP but I have those moments where I have a few minutes to kill and want to finish that next level of MGS. I pray this is not a 2year subscription only purchase with AT&T because frankly, I don't care about online gaming with my handheld and I already have too many bills. I would hope, this thing still has WiFi and Ad-Hoc features like the 3000. If it is a subscription based purchase, then I'll have to pass. Too bad, they finally get one thing right by adding the second thumb stick and make it "exclusive" to a certain market. At least, I hope not...
Giga
I Like AT&T. I have had the for 7 years and had several smart phones with them. I have never had a service issue. No granted I don't live in NY or san fran but the service has all ways been great for me. I wont be buying this on a 3g network ether. With LTE around the corner I will just get a new smart phone and use it for wifi for it.
rebel8
no Netfix support, what a $250 piece of crap. i was dumb enough to get a psp3000 because sony said Netflix was going to be added. who designs this junk. the japanese invented ergonomics yet i cant play the damn thing for 5 minutes before my hands start cramping up. ya, i'm gonna pay $125 a month for the atat g4 data plan so i can do what. the browser sucks and its not a phone for crying out loud. does the gps function cost like the cell phones charge you for a free government application.
doinyomama
President Not Sure approves of AT&T, therefore it's cool, but I'm not getting the 3g version anyway since it doesn't seem worth $50 more.
lowkevmic
Overall I actually think the Vita is pretty cool my only issues are.
1. If the phone industry is moving to 4G service, it would behoove Sony to create a device they plan on selling for the next couple of years to already have that established upon it's release. By this time next year, just about every new smartphone with a touch screen will be equipped with 4G, so why would I want to pay a monthly bill for a device that is still on 3G and I only use it for every other reason why you would want a faster connection.
2. Where are the games?? PSP had the UMD for their games, and I know they got rid of the UMD's when the PS Go came out. So that means no disc, which also means I would have to trust the Sony network and buy all of my games through their store. Am I really ready to put that much trust in Sony again?? Doubt it.
DrunkenCommando
Why AT&T? Why not Verizon? This is going to hurt those 3G version sales.
unrewindable
I love my PS3 and I am looking forward to Vita! But why is cross-game chat available for the Vita and not my PS3? Unless I missed an announcement or something.
Papa_bear
i really dont get it....i literally have heard NOTHING about good about AT&T... so how are they still in business? yeah i know they have the iphone, but wut good is it if the service sucks? if there is some1 AT&T please tell me wut it is exactly....its frustrating to see that the Vita(which is a pretty horrible name if u ask me)is going there...i hate verizon as well (they charge way too much and think that they are better than every1 else.... i have sprint and they r great. Great coverage, great phones(EVO,Epic, etc.), AND ive had nothing but great experiances with their customer service.... so yeah...bad move sony.... any1 with good things to say about to AT&T email me please, thanx
knight35966
Don't worry someone will jail brake it within a month of being released. Just the nature of tech.
x_nightwalker_x21
I love how everyone says "move on, next system, blah blah blah" as if the 3G model is the ONLY ONE AVAILABLE. good lord you internet people can be so stupid and close minded. just get the wifi version idiots. its $50 bucks less anyway for the best handheld ever.
oh, and 3ds has no 3G anyway.
derp.
bolo73
That looks like a great system until they mentioned AT&T. Still, I would like to buy one. I love the boos after they mentioned AT&T.
theantigzus
i have ATT but im getting the wifi only, isnt it better to have a 4G phone and create ur own Wifi hotspot? i mean come on 4G>3G
Jtoon
Big mistake going for AT&T what are they hopping for the same problems Apple have so they have to jump to a new carrier later on?
DrewTheIncredibleX20
I'm honestly disappointed at the choice of network the Vita 3G service will be available for. Since the Xperia will be on Verizon and it's similiar to the PSPgo, wouldn't it have been a much smarter choice and also make the Vita available for Verizon?
DazrilCaidoz
OMG It's finally hear WOOHOO... Wait what's that At&t involved never mind... Next system please
flockigbier
will someone please hack AT&T, they actually deserve it for the piss poor customer service and phone service. This will make AT&T network even worse than it already is. And even if they get T-Mobile's stuff it wont be enough and still be the worse network around. Only reason AT&T has survived is b/c of the iphone otherwise it would be long gone. Please someone kill there network and get the PS Vista on some other network.
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