Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced a new firmware upgrade for the PSP system - version 3.30 - enabling PSP users to play compatible games online, surf the Web, and download podcasts.

“This new offer enables SCEA to take portable gaming and entertainment to a new level of mobility and convenience for PSP owners,” said Peter Dille, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "We’re making it possible for the PSP community to connect in new ways and access the online content they want in more places than ever before. More and more PSP users are going online to challenge each other in multi-player games, and we can now make it more convenient to access online gaming as well as the Internet, showcasing the rich feature set that PSP has to offer.”

North American PSP users can now enter a T-Mobile HotSpot location and access compatible online games via the PSP’s Wi-Fi functionality. Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters, the highly acclaimed newest chapter in the popular franchise, is the first title to take advantage of this new online access, enabling PSP owners to tackle the title’s various multi-player options whenever they’re at a T-Mobile HotSpot. Additional software titles supporting access to T-Mobile HotSpot locations will be released later this year.

Additionally, this new capability makes it easier than ever to access the PSP system’s multimedia features beyond online gaming. PSP owners can take a break from the controls and watch a streaming video or download a podcast while drinking lattes at Starbucks, check out online reviews of the latest book releases while browsing at Borders, or access online city guides for restaurant and nightlife recommendations when passing through the airport or a Hyatt hotel.

Additional firmware 3.30 upgrades

The firmware 3.30 update is the following upgrades:

    * Full-resolution video – PSP users can now view videos saved on a Memory Stick Duo in full resolution (720x480).
    * Thumbnail support – Thumbnail files for video and RSS content can now be displayed.

PSP system firmware updates can be wirelessly downloaded directly to a PSP system using a Wi-Fi connection; downloaded to a PC from us.playstation.com/psp and transferred to a PSP system through a USB cable; or installed using upcoming UMD software.