Vodafone has been confirmed as the “preferred partner” for PlayStation Vita’s 3G services in European territories.
The deal will initially include the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and The Netherlands, as well as “Vodafone’s Partners in France,” Sony has said.
Those of you who plonk down the cash for a 3G Vita from non-Vodafone stores will receive a sim card to activate the handheld’s 3G services. If you purchase from a Vodafone store, however, you’ll also bag a free download code for WipEout 2048.
However, the portable’s 3G connectivity won’t be locked to just Vodafone, with consumers able to use other networks if the option is available. The 3G Vita itself will set you back €299/£279.
Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), commented, “With social gaming and connectivity at the heart of PlayStation Vita it is important that we partner with a market leading network provider, to ensure users have a high quality 3G experience.”
“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.”
“We know from our application downloads that games are hugely popular with our customers, so we’re delighted to be SCEE’s preferred connectivity partner for 3G Vita devices sold across Europe and other selected regional markets,” added Patrick Chomet, Group Terminals Director at Vodafone.
“Using the device over Vodafone’s high-performance network with extensive 3G reach and market leading download speeds brings a reliable ‘anywhere anytime’ dimension to gaming, which customers in our initial ten launch markets will be the first to experience.”
PlayStation Vita hits Europe and the U.S. on February 22, 2012.