@kspraydad, Nice find. It says on the printable coupon this Bluray offer is valid on players bought between 10/1/07-1/31/08. So logically the new SKU would release during that timeframe! Anyone know what the older coupon looks like?
Could it not be the a new rumble-included SixAxis SKU? Sony has already said that rumble-enabled Sixaxis won't come til 2008 so maybe that is being reviewed by the FCC as part of a new PS3 SKU.
The old docs disclosed a new model number for a controller...(though peripherals wouldn't require submission they must be changing the internals of the PS3 at the same time for some reason).
I believe Kspraydad found the FCC filing before anyone or any site decided to comment on it. This information below is brand new, but I still think Kspraydad deserves some credit. I could not locate his post about it, but I urge him to reply to this and people to give him the upbids for this instead of me. Perhaps he could also link us to his original posting.
"A recent FCC filing by Sony may have revealed several new details about an upcoming PlayStation 3 model. Although the majority of technical details and photographs have been blocked from the public’s view at Sony’s request, the information available is able to confirm that the upcoming model – designated CECHG01 – is indeed a PlayStation 3 at the core.
Technologies described in the filing include Bluetooth, 802.11b/g WiFi, along with a number of I/O ports. The FCC report states that only two USB ports were tested (current PS3s have four ports) and there were no mention of memory card reader tests. Since the FCC is a radio test, it may not have required extensive testing of select PS3 features.
Earlier this month, Sony enlisted the help of top computer manufacturer Foxconn to manufacture low-cost PlayStation 3. The FCC filing could well be the first sign of the new product development agreement between the two companies." LINK
@Laoldar, I don't take analyst's word as infallible. I've held the view I posted for months, they're merely backing up what I think. Noone saw the Wii's degree of success coming, not even Nintendo (evidenced by their supply not enough for demand and their own words). Analysts have also said PS3 would pull ahead later in this generation, as late as 2010.
I think they can cut the price this holiday and keep it there beyond March, rather than waiting until March. If PS3 gets sacked this holiday that will hurt it more than the money lost on hardware this holiday, both in marketshare, 3rd party support, and mindshare.
It's not just whether a consumer is deciding between 360 and PS3. If they're looking at PS3 and its a choice of $599, $499, or $399, obviously they will be more likely to buy at $399. And you also have to consider people who already own a 360 or Wii and still want a PS3. Or people who want PS3 more than a 360, like Sony fans.
People are not obsessing about price only, people are looking at content too, but people are recognizing that $599 and $499 is too high. When the price is that high, its very important to people. Only the most hardcore will spend that money, even if the content is there. The original price cut wasn't even really a price cut, but even so, 2 pricecuts in one year is not Dreamcast like desperation, that was a very different case than PS3.
Oh and yes the price cut did stimulate sales a bit...but not enough to matter. Even with the price cut Sony sold less consoles than the 360 in both months. If they continue to lose ground then it was a failure. Also, the price cut doesn't look like it will maintain any sales momentum, so all it likely did was encourage a few thousand people to buy a PS3 earlier than they would have otherwise.
I wouldn't take analyst's word as infallible. Most predicted that the PS3 would rule the sales, or at least have a fight with the 360 for first place...most were flat out wrong on how this past year has shaped up.
It's my firm belief that price cuts without big-name games (not unproven IPs) will not help their market share enough. If they continue to cut prices they will lose a lot of money and consumers will still choose the 360 at a similar price. If a consumer is on the fence about a console, why would a reduced price PS3 get their attention over a 360? Many games are multi-plat now and the 360 has a ton of great exclusives and their online component blows Sony out of the water. All Sony has is the promise of some exclusives in the future, though many would say it's doubtful that they will stay that way.
People need to stop obsessing about price and start looking more at content. Remember when the Wii price was announced and everyone moaned that it was too high and wouldn't sell well? Turns out that people wanted the content and the price point wasn't a huge deal. If the PS3 had titles like GT5, GTA4, FF13, MGS4 in its first year it would be outselling the 360 by now. The problem isn't its price, the problem is that Sony has yet to give consumers enough reasons to choose their console over the 360. And a reduced price won't be the saving grace...2 price cuts in one year will just reek of Dreamcast-like desperation.
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Don't have one to scan but they were set to expire as of Sept 30th...so the deal is extended and this new SKU (whatever it is) is included.