Sony Ericsson unveils Xperia Play Android 'Playstation phone'

An Android phone that includes a 'Playstation-quality gaming experience' has been unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play has a 1GHz processor, a five-megapixel camera and a four-inch touchscreen display. It runs on the latest version of Google's smartphone operating system, Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Unlike other Android phones, this one doubles as a portable games console, with a slide-out control pad that features touch-controls, a d-pad and the well-known Playstation button controls: triangle, circle, cross and square.

The phone, which is 'Playstation Certified', will play Playstation games which can be downloaded from an online store, called the Playstation Suite, which will launch later this year.

While the gaming aspect might be the big news, Sony Ericsson and Playstation have both been tight-lipped on specifics. EA will be offering popular racing title Need for Speed, while The Sims 3 will also be heading to the device.

A version of the footballing game FIFA is also in the works alongside Guitar Hero, Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play will be available from March on all the major UK mobile networks; a retail price yet to be announced.