Sony Announced that Skype is available on the PlayStation Vita (PSVita) starting some time on Tuesday. Skype allows PS Vita users to make both video calls and voice calls to other Skype users. Additionally, for about 2 cents a minute, PS Vita users can use their Vita to make voice calls to landlines (cost estimated).
Sony launched the PlayStation Vita at $249 at launch for the WiFi version, and $299 for the 3G version of the system. This announcement was greeted with applause at the Sony E3 Press Conference, and today, near-cell-phone capabilities have been introduced for the system.
Sony says that virtually every major publisher has signed up for developing against the PS Vita, and with today's announcement, even other console manufacturers seem to be getting in on the act (Skype is owned by Microsoft).
Although the 3G model of the system is only $299, the 3G functionality is limited to AT&T as the only 3G provider for the PS Vita.
The PS Vita features some top tier games now and to be released in the near future, like Uncharted. Uncharted was a launch title that allows you to draw on the screen a path for where you want to go, tapping enemies to do stealth takedowns, and moving with the SixAxis controls. While the game looks far better than anything previously shown on a portable, it recieved only "very good" reviews, as some of the missions seemed to only exist to show off the controls.
ModNation Racers is another game for the PS Vita, which is a racing game with a track editor that is completely usable with the touchpads on the PS Vita. The back touch pad allows users to modify the terrain, by "pushing" mountains and terrain upward, and the front screen allows the user to add lakes and trees. The touch screen also allows people to modify lighting with a simple finger press. Owners of PS Vita version of ModNation Racers will have access to all of the tracks etc created on the PS3 version of the game.
LittleBigPlanet for Vita has touchscreen, rear touch, tilt, pass n play, and multitouch game types. Like the PS3 version of the game, LittleBigPlanet will allow you to play Online. The PS Vita version of the game allows you to share your costumes with the PS3 version of the game, take pictures with the cameras, and more.
Although no new news about it has come in a while, a new Bioshock was also announced for PS Vita! No screens have been shown for the game, but the announcement of the new BioShock title was a welcome one.
Skype is certainly a big name addition to the PS Vita lineup.