So who’s got an iPhone/iPod? Who’s got an Android phone? Regardless of whether you have an iPhone or an Android OS based phone, you will be able to reap the benefits of the Official PlayStation App that has been announced.

You will be able to download this new app from the respective app markets very soon. No specific date has yet been given, although I think you’ll be grabbing your app around sometime in January. Even though it’s good to keep your mobile phone updated to the latest firmware, you will need to be on OS4 on the iPhone / iPod and 1.6 on Android.

So, what benefits do you get?

• Check out your PlayStation Network trophies and keep up to date with your friends’ games and online status.
• Discover all the latest games, news and hardware for your PlayStation 3, PSP and PlayStation 2.
• Read all the announcements on the European PlayStation Blog.
• Share your favourite products or news with your friends on Facebook, Twitter or via e-mail.

OK – benefits is a rather strong word to use as you don’t really get any ‘real’ benefits but I’m sure the app will be updated with some ‘exciting’ stuff over time. How is this different to what’s already in the app stores I hear you ask? Well, firstly the apps that are in the store are developed by third parties that have limited access to the PlayStation Blog APIs etc. Even though all of the above mentioned features are already available in the Third Party apps, SONY are in the better position to release updated versions of their app, unlike the Third Party developers who have limited updatability (is that a word?).

Even though this is exciting news for some, the PlayStation App will only hit markets in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and The Netherlands.

What would you like to see included in the app? What feature do you think will benefit the PS3 community?

Via blog.eu.playstation.com