http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-01-27-sony-outlines-ngp-asynchronous-gaming
Sony has moved to calm excitement that its Next Generation Portable will allow users to game online while out and about using its 3G function. Actual simultaneous gameplay will "depend very much on the degree of data traffic that's being driven by that online game" SCEE boss Andrew House told Eurogamer. What is perhaps more realistic, however, is asynchronous gaming. Explained House: "One area that I'm particularly excited about is the idea of asynchronous gaming, whereby the game experience is existing either on a PS3 or on your NGP, and then the 3G ability is the real-time, you know, 'you're under attack, you've got to go do something,' messaging, just keeping that link with you, which clearly is not very heavy in terms of data traffic, but creates a whole different sense to the experience." Multiple versions of the NGP will launch from late 2011, each with Wi-Fi capability. Only one, however, will also feature 3G. "The first thing to clarify, which I'm not sure the presentation did a perfect job of doing today, is that all of the devices will have Wi-Fi capability; a separate SKU will have 3G," House said. "So the user gets a choice. Wi-Fi is available wherever, which clearly is the most important aspect of connectivity and that connected experience; 3G will be a subset of that." Sony is currently "working hard" on 3G partnerships. House confirmed there will be some cost to the user for 3G services. "You'll hear more from us around that aspect of the strategy as we get closer to launch."
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I wonder how much 3G will add to the price, or what other SKUs we might see.
