Retailers like Best Buy and EBgames with a stocked line of Sony-branded PSP accessories indicate that the company may be sending a stand-alone $199 PSP to retailers. Items like Sony headphones, cases, 32MB Memory Stick, and battery chargers are now all for sale as individual items. However, they are exact to the ones currently included in the $249 PSP Value Pack.

At $199, consumers could see a stand-alone PSP unit for sale, similar to the one offered in Japan at launch. The stand alone PSP includes only the hardware, battery pack, and charger, leaving out cases, headphones, and memory.

Currently, the PSP Value Pack is the only configuration in which the hardware is sold at North American retailers. The $249 bundle includes accessories like headphones, case, battery pack, charger, and a copy of Spider-Man 2 on UMD.

Many consumers have balked at the $249 price tag on Sony's handheld entertainment system. Retailers were baffled as the 1 million units shipped to retail last November didn't sell out immediatley after a bolster of publicity.

The launch was also marred by reports of dead-pixels, or glowing dots on the screen that affect the display. Sony's PSP customer service initially said that several dead pixels were a normal, non-warranted occurence on PSP screens, but later allowed consumers to send them back for a replacement.

Still, PSP sales have been no slouch for Sony, as the company recently reported sales of 2.97 million units to date worldwide. The PSP also generated $150 million in sales in its first two days at retail.

The PSP has been seen as a viable entertainment device by major movie studios, and recently received backing by 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios. UMD sales have reportedly been brisk at retail.

New Sony accessories at retail that are of use to current owners include extra battery packs, a Sony accessories case, and a car charger.

Page: 1