Video download service from Sony

Sony is all set to launch a video download service for its PlayStation Portable (PSP) game console in the first Quarter of 2007, reports revealed.

Developed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, the service is rumored to be a potential threat to the strongly held video download market of Apple Computer's.

The service will allow its users to download movies from the Internet onto a computer and store them on memory cards for viewing on the PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld games device.

The PSP service works with the company's memory stick storage platform, and a 4 Gb Sony Memory Stick will store up to 10 feature films.

According to officials, Sony is in constant talks with movie download sites like Amazon.com, Movielink, and CinemaNow for the use of PSP service.

However, the PSP service will not be compatible with Apple Computer's iTunes Music store, experts said.

Sony's first foray into the video game market, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console released and manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment.

The PlayStation Portable offers the ability to play video games, watch videos, listen to music, view images, as well as Internet browsing.

Officially unveiled in 2004 at a Sony press conference, the Play Station Portable captured a major chunk of market share. However, PSP sales plunged by the end of 2005.

Sony has already tried to expand the PlayStation Portable's uses beyond gaming to movies.

The successful launch of a movie download service is cited as a clever move by the company to boost flagging sales, industry watchers predict.

Though lack of video version for its Walkman music player leaves Sony incapable to compete with Apple on the video front, the new PSP hardware gives Sony enough to challenge Apple Computer's iTunes Music Store.