Vodafone has struck a deal with Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) to be the preferred provider of 3G across Europe for the new PlayStation Vita gaming console.
The Vita, which is not due to launch until February, will ship with a Vodafone 3G SIM card enabling owners to interact with other game players and download new entertainment apps when needed. Vodafone said that deal with Sony was a first in the 3G-enabled on-the-go console market. Vodafone group terminals director Patrick Chomet told Mobile Today: "We want our customers to have the best choice of devices and PlayStation Vita is a great addition to our range. We know from our application downloads that games are hugely popular with our customers, so we're delighted to be SCE's preferred connectivity partner for 3G Vita devices sold across Europe and other selected regional markets."
The PlayStation Vita 3G+Wi-Fi models will be sold through SCE's retail channels and at Vodafone stores or online. The 3G+/Wi-Fi model of the PlayStation Vita will be available for €299 with the Wi-Fi-only model costing €249. However, unlike the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play 2, Sony's Vita will not support conventional cellular voice calls. Vodafone has yet to announce its 3G data tariffs for the Vita.