Sony to launch navigation accessory for PSP

LEIPZIG, Germany (Reuters) - Sony Corp. (6758.T) plans to sell a satellite navigation accessory from February 2008 that turns its handheld PSP games console into a navigation device, the company announced at the Leipzig Games Convention on Wednesday.

The PSP equipped with the global positioning (GPS) accessory will compete with dedicated navigation devices such as those made by TomTom (TOM2.AS) and Garmin Ltd (GRMN.O).

David Reeves, head of Sony's European games unit, said the accessory would be priced between 100 and 150 euros ($135-$200).

Sony separately announced an accessory for its flagship PlayStation 3 that will turn the games console into a digital video recorder. The accessory is a receiver for terrestrial digital broadcasts such as the Freeview service in Britain.

The move sets Sony apart from Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), which offers downloadable movies and television shows for its Xbox 360 console but no live TV.

A player that also owns a PSP will be able to transfer recorded programs to the handheld device and watch them on the go, Sony said. The product is to be launched in early 2008 in selected European markets.

($1=.7418 Euro)

(Reporting by Niclas Mika and Christiaan Hetzner)