If you aren’t aware by now, Skype is actually owned by Microsoft and although the application is now available for Windows Phone it appears that PS Vita owners have the best version hands down.

The app works in the way you would expect, allowing for calls to be made either through a WiFi or 3G connection. One Vita specific feature though that is very impressive is the ability to take calls whilst you are in the middle of a game. Simply open up Skype and minimize the app via the Home button and head into a game – if someone calls you whilst you’re playing, you’ll get a notification pop up and returning to the home screen will automatically bring up the incoming call. It works really well and it’s a feature that a lot of you will grow to love we expect.

Just like the desktop versions, you can pay for Skype credit to use your Vita to make calls to landlines and mobile numbers – dare we say it essentially turning the Vita into the highly sought after ”PSP Phone”? Another nice addition which you may have seen on tablet devices is the ability to use both cameras. Since the Vita has a rear and a front camera you can easily switch between the two during a call to show people your surroundings.

The only downside to the app that we can see is that the background calling function won’t work if you play games that disable the Vita’s network connection. Uncharted Golden Abyss is one of these games sadly, but let’s hope that future updates will see some sort of workaround to the problem. Another minor grunt is that you can’t use the Vita’s camera to take a new profile picture to update your Skype account directly on the app.

Overall though we’re really impressed with the time we’ve spent on Skype so far. The call quality isn’t HD or anything like that but it is definitely good enough for solid video chat with a loved one or friend. Skype has done a really good job with the contact interface on the Vita, while the touch sub menus on the right-hand side are nice little additions as well.

Have you spent some time with Skype on the Vita already? If so, give us your initial impressions of the app so far. This just goes to show the potential of the Vita as a true multimedia device aside from gaming. Now let’s see a Spotify app please Sony!

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We recently told you about the issue surrounding the PS Vita and the blue light that appears as the system apparently locks up. Now in only two days time Sony will be rolling out the 1.6 firmware update for users to download, and according to a report on Andriasang it will be available on Wednesday February 8th.

It will bring with it two major features that include a new Map app available on the Home screen. Opening this application up users will be able to see their positional information via a map, and can be viewed with satellite imagery either on or off. Users also have the option of walking or driving directions and see details about the current location they are in.

The PS Vita photo app is also being update with users getting the ability to take videos, as currently they are restricted to taking static images. The Home button will now flash blue when the console is connected to a power supply.

Sony are also set to release a Mac OS version of its Content Management Assistant for PlayStation program, which currently only supports Windows since it was launched. This allows users to transfer content between their PC and the Vita.

As we reported recently the update will also take in the rebranding of the PlayStation Network to the new name of Sony Entertainment Network. If you already have one what do you think of the PS Vita?

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We recently told you that branches of GAME and Gamestation now have demo PS Vita models for excited gamers to give a try in the stores. Now the same retailer has released some details regarding how much consumers can get hold of the PS Vita by trading in some other hardware according to Pocket Gamer.

If you are growing bored of your Nintendo 3DS and if you part exchange it you can pick up the Wi-Fi only version for £99, or alternatively the 3G model will cost you £149.99. If you have a spare 250GB Xbox 360 or a 320GB PS3 the Wi-Fi Vita will set you back £79.99 or £129.99 for the 3G version.

Trading in your old PSP Slim & Lite will get you the PS Vita for £179.99 or £229.99 for the 3G. If you have an old Nintendo Wii gathering dust not doing anything then the PS Vita is priced at £189.99/£239.99. Some will see the offers as being pretty poor considering the console at the retailer starts at £229.99 for the Wi-Fi version.

Do you think the trade in deals offer value for money?

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The designer of the Sony Walkman and the PS Vita, Takashi Sogabe, has spoken to CVG.com and stated he would like future versions of the PS Vita to be slimmer than the launch model. He was talking in an interview at the Sony Computer Entertainment’s Japanese HQ recently.

Sogabe is also in charge of the Corporate Design Centre, and mentioned that in the future he would like to use metal for the system instead of the current plastic materials currently used as the Vita is developed.

He said that there is a constant battle between designers and engineers, and revealed that the original design of the PS Vita was a lot slimmer than the launch model. Sogabe added that “thinner is better-looking, but the engineers wanted to put all the features in”.

There is a chance that it may happen in the future but depends on the engineers coming up with a solution for it to happen. He feels that the both the analogue sticks and buttons were maybe not in the ideal position, but it was possibly “the best solution from a publisher’s point of view”.

Metal couldn’t currently be used for the Vita because of the antennae inside the body, so plastic had to be used. Many devices are getting slimmer now as the technology for internal components is improving all the time, so there is no reason why it couldn’t eventually happen to the PS Vita as it did with the PS3.

Are you planning on picking up the PS Vita? Which version will you be getting?

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Sales of the device are continuing to struggle, and according to a report on Pocket Gamer sold only 18,361 units during the Vita’s fifth week of being available. During the first week of being available the device managed to shift around 320,000 units, but during the second week this dropped almost 78 percent to around 72,000.

Then some resellers of the device dropped the asking price for the 3G version of the Vita, but it doesn’t seem to have been enough to cause a spike in sales. These latest sales figures represent around a 95 percent drop in sales from the first week, and may cause some concern at Sony headquarters.

Compare these figures of only 18,361 for the Vita to the Nintendo 3DS that managed to shift an impressive 100, 668 units. Even the old PSP achieved to shift 22,538 units during the same week, beating the PS Vita by 4,177 units.

It is only a few weeks now until the console launches in the US and Europe, and only then will we really be able to see how successful the PS Vita will become. We believe it will do really well and feel that many consumers may sit tight and wait a while before taking the plunge with the Vita.

Do you plan to purchase the PS Vita?

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The highly anticipated handheld is launching in Europe and the US on February 22nd, with Vodafone and AT&T signed up as the preferred partners of Sony for Europe and US respectively, for the 3G version of the device.

One aspect that hasn’t been disclosed for both carriers though, is the official data price plans that will be associated with both carriers. However, new information this week has revealed that AT&T may not be making any big changes to their current 3G data plans, that they also offer for a range of smartphones and tablet devices.

An report published over at GameZone appears to confirm that AT&T will offer two data plans for the 3G Vita, plans which will give owners the choice of either a 250MB or 2GB package. If true, the 250MB data bundle will be priced at $14.99 per month, while 2GB will be available for $25 a month. Many 3G Vita owners will obviously opt for the biggest data plan available which is 2GB, and it will mean paying $300 a year to keep your Vita connected to the internet and Sony’s PlayStation Network when away from home.

The prices do not seem too unreasonable to us, and we’re sure many of you wouldn’t mind forking out an extra $25 per month for the 2GB. It does however add to the cost of an overall package which isn’t getting cheaper by the day – $299 for the 3G console and $20 minimum for a 4GB memory card which is mandatory. Then of course you have to consider buying games for the system which have already been given a maximum price of $50, for titles like Uncharted: Golden Abyss.

This hasn’t been made official by AT&T yet, so you should still take this information with a pinch of salt. If these are confirmed to be the 3G data prices for the Vita in the US, do you think $25 for 2GB is reasonable, or did you expect bigger allowance like 4GB?

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According to an article on The Guardian Sony acknowledge that there may have been some users experiencing some minor issues with the PS Vita. David Wilson of Sony Computer Entertainment stated that the company is “annoyed with these stories, because we can’t find any evidence of widespread glitches”.

Some of the reports have claimed that Sony had apologized about the PS Vita issues, but Wilson added that “there’s an apology on our Japanese website for people who are having trouble getting through to our technical help line, but that’s it”. There is also a page that shows some procedures for turning the device on and off, which Wilson said had been on the Sony site before the device was even launched.

It looks as if certain comments have been lost in translation from Sony’s Japanese website, although the company has already released a firmware update. This can be expected with any new device shortly after being released though.

There may be individuals who are not fans of Sony and could be trying to smear the launch of its new product. If there are any widespread problems with the Vita at least Sony has a couple of months to correct them before it launches to other parts of the world.

Do you think Sony has been the victim of a smear campaign?

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Back in the summer Sony announced that in the US it would partner with mobile carrier AT&T, and have now taken to its official PlayStation Blog to announce the latest news. Vodafone will be the preferred partner for the consoles 3G connectivity at launch with the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Australia and New Zealand, and Vodafone’s Partner in France.

The new handheld console with the 3G and Wi-Fi compatibility will be sold in selected countries and come with a Vodafone SIM card. This will allow new owners to start enjoying social gaming experiences straight away out of the box. Consumers will also be able to pick up the console from various Vodafone retail outlets and online.

Customers will also get a PlayStaion Network voucher to download WipEout 2048 from the PlayStation Store. Gamers who purchase the PS Vita can also use another network provider though to connect to the internet, which is good for consumers who would like to use an alternative to Vodafone.

President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Jim Ryan, said “Partnering with Vodafone will enable PS Vita users in the selected countries to always be connected with their PlayStation life, friends and games, wherever they are.” The device will be available in the region from February 22nd.

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Sony Europe announced the news, which is sure to get many gamers wanting to order the device before it becomes available in Europe on February 22nd. As from November 30th the portable gaming console will be available for pre-order, not only that but there will be two redeemable gift packs available, one of which gamers will get with each pre-order. What they get will depend on their location.

As PlayStation Blog details in their article, the first gift pack will contain a redeem code for an exclusive PS Vita avatar for PSN, early access to Frobisher Says!, PS Vita items for PlayStation Home including a bag, trainers, headphones, sunglasses and a t-shirt and €5 discount on any one of these PS Vita games; Escape Plan, Hustle Kings, Super Stardust Delta or Little Deviants.

The UK and European gift pack also comes with a pair of ‘PS Vita Blue’ in-ear headphones. The second gift pack is only available to gamers in Greece, South Africa, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Spain and France who will be given the option to swap the headphones for a PS Vita branded wallet instead, as well as all the other goodies.

Pre-orders can begin to be placed at selected game retailing stores as of November 30th where a deposit must be paid. Where you are in the world determines whether or not you get the choice of gift pack, then come release day the balance can be paid and the PS Vita and all the exclusive content is officially yours. Will you be pre-ordering the PS Vita?

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However, we should not take this as a date that the Vita will be released, it’s just a guideline really – so we know that it’s release will be no later than early March. Okay so this is not a specific date for you we know, we just thought that you would like to know it will be either in February, but then again Sony could surprise those in the US with a January launch – highly doubtful though?

Looking at this, it seems that Capcom is the only publisher to confirm a release date for a PlayStation Vita game title; we just hope that Street Fighter X Tekken isn’t a launch title as we have been told in the past. Never before have we been hoping that a game will not be released at the same time as a product launch, as it will mean that US gamers will have to wait another five months for Vita.

The smart money is still March, as this puts it in line with Sony’s Spring 2012 time frame. However, if you cannot wait that long, then you should be able to have one imported from Japan, who get theirs in December. We already have some great images of the retail box of this region free device, which you can see here.

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