Vodafone Details Pricing for PS Vita 3G

Thirteen days and counting ...

We've been hearing about the PlayStation Vita for years (yes, really, the first rumours started to do the rounds in the summer of 2009), so we're definitely ready for this thing to finally launch. This week, Vodafone reminded us that we're one step closer to availability by announcing pricing for the 3G version of the device. The carrier will sell the 3G version of the device in a £279 bundle, which includes a 4GB memory card and pay-as-you-go SIM card as well as WipEout 2048. Topping up by £5 will get you 250MB of data, which will be good for 30 days. Of course, if you're not into 3G, you'll be able to get your hands on the WiFi-only model for £229.

Vodafone UK was named the 'preferred provider' of the PS Vita as part of a deal that was struck in November of last year. The deal covers the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and, with Vodafone's partner SFR, France. This means that 3G Vitas purchased in selected countries will ship with a Vodafone SIM card so gamers can get started immediately. Customers will also be able to buy PS Vita 3G/Wi-Fi model direct from Vodafone channels, both online and in store, and will receive a PlayStation Network voucher that will allow them to download WipEout 2048 from the PlayStation Store.

First launched in Japan on December 17, the Vita will go on sale in the United States and across Europe on February 22. It packs a quad-core ARM Cortex A9 CPU; a 5-inch 960x544 multitouch OLED display; a rear touchpad with multitouch; both front-facing and rear-facing cameras with frame rates of 120fps at 320x240 (QVGA) and 60fps at 640x480 (VGA); GPS; Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; PlayStation Vita card slot; memory card slot; a SIM card slot; and a multi-use port for USB data communication, DC IN, Audio (Stereo Out / Mono In), Serial data communication, and WiFi and 3G support. There's also a WiFi-only model for those with an aversion to data contracts.