Japan's Sony Corp plans to add an Internet phone function to its PlayStation Portable (PSP) game player in co-operation with eBay unit Skype to stir up demand, the Nikkei business daily said on Saturday.
The PSP has trailed Nintendo Co Ltd's DS handheld gear in sales since their launches three years ago as DS's casual and innovative games proved a smashing success in gaming population expanding beyond young males to women and mature users.
By downloading Skype's software, which is expected to become available as early as this month, PSP users can make free Web-based phone calls with other PSP users and the users of PCs equipped with Skype software, the Nikkei said.