Today at the official PlayStation.Blog, Sony product manager Anand Agarwal finally confirmed what GangstaKilla26 at the PS3Forums told us way back in March — Sony has a badass, feature-packed Bluetooth headset ready to ship with SOCOM: Confrontation this October. Just how badass?
Weighing in at just over one ounce, this Bluetooth 2.1+EDR headset has the same standard 8 hours talk time, 300 hours of standby, USB charging option and compatibility with both PS3 and mobile phone that you’d expect out of any quality Bluetooth device — but since this headset is built from the ground up to be a PS3 online voice chat unit, that’s where the similarities end. This little number’s got a dedicated microphone mute button. It’s got in-game status indicators for volume and battery charge level. It docks with a charge cradle that turns it into a freestanding mic. It pairs with the PS3 just by plugging into a USB port. And once paired, Sony claims that this headset will shift into a high-quality mode capable of noise canceling and limited voice recognition.
But perhaps best of all — as I alluded to in the title — is the price. While the headset will set you back $50 by its lonesome, somehow Sony managed to pack it into the $60 SOCOM: Confrontation for U.S. release. (Japan will be paying 8000 yen, or approximately $75 for a similar package.)
While we wouldn’t dream of recommending you pick one up until we’ve had a chance to test the audio quality — after all, it hasn’t been that long since since gamers were shafted by the deceptively slick Metal Gear earpiece, and this high-quality mode sounds suspiciously like marketing jargon — we’ve been reassured this device is an in-house product developed by the same team who brought us the PlayStation Eye.
Sony is still so concerned with turning a profit on PS3 that we’re not likely to see a price cut anytime soon… but if they keep releasing must-have gadgets for the device, they’ll certainly have a customer in me.
Press release and preliminary specs for the Japanese version follow:
Tokyo, September 2, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ), a division of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. responsible for business operations in Japan, today announced that it would release Bluetooth® installed Wireless Headset for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) on October 30th, 2008, in Japan at a recommended retail price of 5,000 yen (including tax). With this new Wireless Headset, users will be able to enjoy the most immersive on-line communication on new software titles supporting on-line chat feature, such as SOCOM: CONFRONTATION*1 available on October 30th, Resistance™ 2 available on November 13th, and MotorStorm™: Pacific Rift available this autumn, all from Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios.
Offering simple operation and accessible voice chat on PS3, this sleek and compact Wireless Headset is an ear hook type headset, designed to fit either ear. Installed with Bluetooth, it pairs automatically with PS3 by simply using the bundled USB cable. The inner ear phone speaker of the new Headset along with the noise cancelling feature when in High Quality mode delivers stable, superior sound.
Additionally, the bundled cradle can be used to charge the battery which will allow maximum of eight hours of voice chat when fully charged. While the Headset is connected to PS3, it will support on-screen indicator showing the headset connection status, battery charge level, speaker volume level and microphone mute status at a push of a button.
SCEJ will continue to further expand the PS3 platform to create a new world of computer entertainment with enhanced line-up of PS3 platform and accessories, along with up coming exciting new titles.
※1 SOCOM: CONFRONTATION will be available in three versions: Blu-Ray Disc version (3,800 yen including tax), Blu-Ray Disc version bundled with Wireless Headset (limited edition for 8,000yen including tax), and PLAYSTATION®Store Downloadable version (3,500 yen including tax). This product is on-line action game and users will need broadband network connection in order to enjoy the game.
※ Users will need to install the latest system software update to use the Wireless Headset.
Product Overview
| Product name | Wireless Headset |
| Product code | CEJH-15002 |
| Release date | October 30, 2008 |
| Recommended retail price | 5,000 yen (including tax) |
| Included | Wireless Headset x 1 Cradle x 1 USB cable x 1 Extra earpiece ring x 1 |
Product Specification
| Battery | DC 3.7V : built in Lithium-ion battery |
| Capacity | 190mAh |
| Operating temperature | 5℃ - 35℃ |
| Weight | Approx. 19.5g |
| Bluetooth specifications | Bluetooth ver2.1+EDR |
| Supported Bluetooth profiles*1 | HSP (Headset Profile)/ HFP (Hands-free Profile) |
| Operating range | Up to approx. 10 meters*2 |
| Talk time | Up to approx. 8 hours*3 |
| Standby time | Approx. 300 hours*3 |
※ Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.
※1 Bluetooth profiles are used to define possible application that the device can use to communicate with other devices.
※2 Operating range may change depending on user environment.
※3 Talk time and Standby time may change depending on user environment and or charge level.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Huh. If I had a ps3, this marketing ploy would totally work on me.