With Apple enjoying so much success with the App Store for its line of iPod and iPhone products, it was expected that Sony would take an aggressive approach to tap into this popular market. And with the price drop of 80% for all PSP development kits, it’s clear that Sony wants to build up their PSP Minis library fast. But that initial price drop may only be the beginning.
Because Apple’s development kit is free, Zeno Colaco from Sony Europe claims that his company may soon follow suit:
“Further down the line, we may investigate a totally free model or supported model.
There are dangers in having total open access; having six thousand applications where probably only thirty are discovered by the consumer. Some of the developers working on the App Store and PSP Minis tell us that they prefer our approach because they get more visibility.”
Despite the advantages of giving out free development kits, it’s easy to see the benefits of not letting every single programmer or development team the ability to create PSP Minis. But it certainly wouldn’t hurt.
[Source]
