People all over Europe now have a new way to stay in touch as Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and BT announce the launch of Go!Messenger. Announced back at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Go!Messenger allows PSP owners to voice chat and instant message each other via wireless internet hotspots. When used in conjunction with the Go!Cam peripheral, users can even video chat with one another, meaning don't be alarmed if you see people staring at their PSP screen and chatting with it in the near future.

"With Go!Messenger, the PSP is pushing new boundaries, adding unique communication features to all the existing multimedia experiences," said Stephane Hareau, PSP European Marketing Manager. "Enabling more than 8.5 Million PSP users across the SCEE region to communicate with each other, through Video or Voice chat, truly confirms the always evolving nature and potential of PSP."

The full Go!Messenger package will be available via the Euro PC PlayStation Store this Friday. More »

There wasn't a whole lot of details flapping around when Robbie Bach announced that British Telecom would be the first company to team up with Microsoft to offer consumers an Xbox 360 set-top IPTV box.

Fortunately the BBC was able to squeeze some details about the box out of British Telecom. Chief among them is the fact that despite rumors, and our fervent desires, the box will not be able to receive or record live television. Boo!

The service actually sounds like a more robust version of the Video Marketplace Microsoft already offers on the box.

As well as access to BT's library of on-demand content, users will also be able to watch hundreds of movies and other digital content, including its near-live FA premier League football matches. ... "The reason for streaming only on the Xbox is because currently the console does not have the capability for live TV or enough hard drive for practical downloading of content," explained a BT spokesman.

Well that sucks.

Xbox will host BT's TV service [BBC]

music

Making TV Music Is Crappy, Making Game Tunes Ain't

Electronica musician BT (the guy responsible for 'NYSC's Pop album) believes that the future for young composers is in video games. At the Vegas Music conference, he said game composers have the "best life." Continuing, he added, "I'm just one man, but I know many TV composers and none of them are happy with their job." BT should know, as his work has appeared on countless video games, including Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005. Wow, scoring a golf title and still singing video game music praises. Composing for TV must really, really suck. Brian Ashcraft More »