PSN to be incorporated into new brand, Sony Entertainment Network

Sony is to unite its disparate digital entertainment services in a new platform called the Sony Entertainment Network.

The new platform brings together the various content streaming and download services offered across Sony's consumer electronics - the PlayStation Network, Video Unlimited and Music Unlimited. The last replaces Qriocity, a name Sony seems to have decided to decomission.

CNET reports the new brand was announced at IFA, a consumer electronics trade show in Berlin, by Kazuo Hirai, the first executive to lead all of Sony's consumer electronics divisions.

"We're leveraging the biggest asset, the Sony brand, to establish comprehensive, global platform called Sony Entertainment Network," he said.

A website for the united service is already live, and includes a section for of "partner services" as well the three core pillars of music, video and games - suggesting Sony intends to expand its connections with media groups for a greater range of streaming services. Hirai told IFA attendess that third party services would play an important role in the platform's offering.

Sony has been making noises for some years now to the effect that it wanted to unite its entertainment services under one, device-agnostic banner, and Sony plans to make SEN available on every new Internet-ready device it produces, including smartphones, portable audio, home audio, smart TVs, eBook readers, tablets, and more.

Thanks, EDGE.