Station Voice uses Vivox to allow players to talk to each other in online games. The service currently will allow players to talk person-to-person with any microphone and headset combo, chat with their party, guild or any group, moderator controls and individual mute and volume settings all running on Vivox servers to cut down on bandwidth issues.

Sony Online Entertainment says the free service will be coming to EverQuest players next month, also for free. They also plan to use the voice chatting service in their upcoming massively multiplayer game The Agency and other current and future titles.

SOE first announced the new service back in February, saying that it would also include in-game voicemail, voice masking and multiple channels.

What happened?

Sony Online Entertainment says they're planning on implementing other Vivox services laster this year, including those fancy "voice fonts."

“In-game voice chat is an enhanced new feature gamers of all levels can enjoy. Now, SOE’s players can easily talk to one another and better enjoy the online gaming experience,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “The integration of Station Voice into these initial games was seamless, and we look forward to incorporating this added gaming experience into other SOE titles, as well as implementing the next phase of features to come soon.”

Someone who plays either of the games should let us know how it's looking today, now that the service is live.

Bring Friends Closer Together With Go!Messenger

Video chat, voice chat and instant messaging for PSP

Leipzig, 22 August 2007. At its Press Conference at Games Convention today, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) unveiled Go!Messenger, the wireless communications package for PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable), due for release in January 2008 in the SCEE territories (?).

Utilising the very latest in VOIP technology, PSP users can now keep in touch with each other, for free, from any wireless internet connection. As part of a future firmware upgrade, Go! Messenger places a small application on PSP's XMB™ (XrossMediaBar), which can be downloaded separately from the web and installed to the Memory Stick™ *, and PSP owners will be able to instant message (IM) each other when connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot, using a new and intuitive on-screen keyboard. By adding a headset, voice chat and voice messaging becomes possible, and by connecting Go!Cam, the attachable video camera for PSP, users also have the ability to make video calls to their friends and leave fun video and voice messages.

The Go!Messenger suite of communications tools will become a key part of the PSP owner's busy lifestyle, enabling a variety of communications options to help them stay in touch with their friends, and truly bringing the entertainment potential of PSP to life.

"With Go!Messenger, PSP is pushing new boundaries, adding unique communication functionalities to all the existing multimedia experiences," said Stephane Hareau, PSP European Marketing Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. "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."

Go!Messenger has been developed in partnership with BT, one of the world's leading telecoms providers and along with other new products such as Go!Explore, Go!Cam and the Go! branded Video Download Service, highlight PSP's commitment to communications, community and entertainment through the new Go! Brand.

*1) To enjoy Go! Messenger, Memory Stick with the application needs to be inserted into the PSP hardware.

Once the system gets rolled out in the UK, British Telecom plans on licensing the software to other telecom companies in 100 other countries.

Nice to see the PSP gaining the additional functionality. Not sure I would ever see a reason to use it, but that's exactly the thing you're likely to say before finding yourself trapped in a cave-in with only a PSP and a BT wireless access point nearby. Look for more details to emerge at August's Leipzig event. Michael Fahey

Sony handheld to offer net calls
[BBC - Thanks Youlikeyams?]

Jajah, a VoIP company (think an ugly version of Skype), has now made their service PSP compatible. Mind you, the word used was compatible, not workable. No, "compatibility" with the PSP is defined by Jajah as a series of hoop-jumping that no one in their right mind would go through just to have a time delayed conversation, no matter how low the cost of free was.

These hoops include:
1. Turning on your PSP's wifi connection
2. Connecting to Jajah
3. Connecting your PSP with to regular or cell phone
4. Using your PSP to dial the number
5. THEN making your call

Lovely. I could also go to the hardware store, buy some string, eat two tins of baked beans, hook the whole lot up together and probably come up with same solution. Kim Phu

PSP (PlayStation Portable) gamers around the globe: Call with JAJAH! [JAJAH]

A couple months back, we posted about the Nintendo DS VoIP headset that would be launched in Japan on September 14th. Well, that's either yesterday or tomorrow, by my chronological reckoning.

Well, the first pics have been released, courtesy of Famitsu. It looks pretty swank. The headset is going for only 1200 yen, which is around 10 bucks in non-moon-man currency. You can use it to smacktalk in Metroid Prime: Hunters and Pokemon Diamond and Pearl.

But as I wrote when we originally posted on this: "Where the hell is Skype for the DS? I will never, ever browse the Internet on the DS, but make long-distance phone calls far cheaper than I could make on my mobile phone? That's just fills my sack with sunshine." Quoted for muddafuggin' truth. Florian Eckhardt

Nintendo DS Voice Over IP headset [Plastic Bamboo]

Well, this is rather nifty. At a recent retail product fair in Japan, Nintendo announced a VoIP headset for the DS and DS Lite. It's set to go on sale in Japan around September 14th. Price? Only about $10, surprisingly. It's designed to allow you to engage in more comfortable, lower volume smack talk with your Metroid Prime: Hunters or Pokemon buddies.

Something occurred to me looking at this, though. We're now getting Opera for the DS. Where the hell is Skype for the DS? I will never, ever browse the Internet on the DS, but make long-distance phone calls far cheaper than I could make on my mobile phone? That's just fills my sack with sunshine. Thanks, Bernard! Florian Eckhardt

Nintendo announces headphone VoIP set for DS [Video Games Blogger]

There's giddy speculation that the Wiimote, announced at E3 to include a little speaker, will also have audio-in capabilities; will store a user phonebook/address book; and even be used as a VoIP phone. Oh boy!

Wiikaraoke.com has apparently been registered by Nintendo, and currently redirects to the Nintendo homepage.

It wouldn't be the first time for Nintendo; the DS' mic has been put to good ends (most recently in Brain Age), and the GameCube had a microphone peripheral for Mario Party 6 to facilitate mic-specific minigames. Eliza Gauger

Nintendo Surprises Keep Coming [MegaGames]
Wii Karaoke a New Nintendo Title? [1UP]

Connecting Real Voices Through Virtual Worlds [Clickable Culture]

Also, gamers won't be chatting during the fragfest as the VOIP isn't available while running around the maps blowing each other up. It's there for pre and post-game trash talk.

Pick up Team Speex (not sure why they renamed it) here and Ventrilo here.