Sony has announced an inexpensive version of its Sony PlayStation Portable game console, which will arrive later this year. Jim Ryan, president for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, announced the new PSP E-1000 model that has a shocking compromise — lack of WiFi support.
Besides, the mono-aural speakers replace the stereo speakers in the previous generation PSP models. The new Sony PSP E-1000 models will be sold for $99 in US, 99 Euros in Europe and 99 Pounds in UK but there was no information on its release or availability date.
Sony is expected to launch the PS Vita game console sometime early next year in the USA and European region. Apparently, the company at the Gamescon 2011 expo announced a cheaper PlayStation Portable E-1000 model with Universal Media Disc drive support (yes, you read this right). Looks like Sony is not going to give away the proprietary physical game media option for the PSP consoles.
PSP E-1000 comes with the same 4.3-inch TFT LCD display with 16:9 aspect ratio and there is also no mention of the SIM slot. That makes us wonder — how will this PSP model connect with the PlayStation network online? Either this model is meant just for playing ALL PSP games published till date or it will connect to the PlayStation network via a PlayStation 3 or PC. No additional video or music codecs has been added to the new PSP Model.
From the photos, the user interface appears to be totally new and fresh. The new PSP E-1000 is expected to be available sometime early next year along with the PS Vita.