Sony to release white PS3 in the U.S.

Foster City (CA) - The first new colored version of the PS3 is headed to North America, according to a filing with the FCC.

The "ceramic white" Playstation 3 came out in Japan last November, but recently uncovered documents from the Federal Communications Commission show that it is slated for a stateside launch as well.

Sony had requested a short-term confidentiality of the files "to avoid premature release of sensitive information prior to marketing or release of the product to the public."

So far the only official versions of the PS3 have been "piano black", the same color of the first PSP. The white PS3 in Japan has a 40 GB hard drive and retails for the same price as the black 40 GB unit there.

A price and release date have not yet been set for the US version of the system.