well,

the guy say nowhere that the 80gb will be phased out (correct me if I m wrong but the 80gb is still produced ?)

Even if it happens, I bet Sony will introduce a new model to take the place of the 60/80gb.

AND even if they decide to focus on the 40gb no PS2 BC, it is not a problem because the PS3 games release start to be interesting, Ratchet, Uncharted, CoD4, AssassinCreed. The PS2 BC is not critical anymore...

so, at the end, it is ok for Sony.

He was being sarcastic.

Interesting, I always imagined they would keep two versions of the PS3 available at all times.

There is always a short term increase whenever new models and price cuts are introduced. The long term ramifications are uncertain. When the 80gb was introduced there was an increase as well, yet sales slipped back to their original levels.

"""Very annoying as I want to get a PS3 in the future when the price goes down, but by then there wont be the option of them playing ps2 games with only the 40gig on the market. It makes sence financially, but does it??? Will it put otheres off buying the system, although in Japan they dont seem to mind...."""

==> I dont have a PS3 either, and I want to buy one later.
I hope the BC will stay too.
But, remember, neither the Xbox360, neither the Wii are able to play your PS2 games

well, the 60gb is seriously hard to find, in london anyway, so im guessing alot of the sales will be in favour of the 40gb. if sales are still around 70-80k, then it could be a very good decision. i tried to find a 60gb ps3 for my gf and i had no luck.

its cheap, and it plays ps3 games, exactly what its supposed to do.

And if this ends up being a bad decision, it isn't as if Sony can start making the 80 or 60g versions again.  That would be impossible.  Sorry for the sarcasm but you're leaving yourself open there.

You're wrong. From the article:

According to a recent games.iafrica.com interview with Steve Foster, Sales & Marketing Manager of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, the 60GB and 80GB models will be phased out over time, and the one and only PS3 available worldwide will be the 40GB version.

From the interview:

GN: So the only model going forward, worldwide, is the 40GB?

SF: Correct. "Worldwide" is the important point here.

There's no quote in there from Steve Foster where he actually said that the 80Gb version was going, just that the 40Gb is the console of choice and that they had stopped production of the 60Gb.

it seems the interviewer had assumed that the 80Gb would be discontinued because Mr Foster said both the 60 and 80Gb consoles were expensive.

I actually hadn't thought of that but now that you mention it would make sense.

lol, sony would have to be desperate to re-introduce a hardware model.