Sony reveals European online plans, and shafts narrowband in the process.

The online console race is well and truly underway, with both Microsoft and Sony both going head to head in Europe. Microsoft currently leads the race, having been testing for months now, but Sony is still back there in behind, and not far, either.

By the end of March, Sony will have begun testing its European online service, which requires testers to have a broadband connection and the brainpower to complete an online survey. This suggests that the narrowband 56k option that Sony runs in the US has been bundled out the door of contemplation.

For your approximately AU$100 you get the broadband adapter, a headset and a copy of SOCOM: US Navy Seals, which is a tempting proposition, but we dont know if this is what us down-undereans will receive.

It is reassuring to see Sony trying to partner with big names in the UK like British Telecom, and NTW unlike the Xbox Live service which Microsoft have stated will be ISP agnostic (ie organise your own ISP, bucko). With broadband in Australia being a bit shoddy at the moment, with a possible improve, it remains to be seen how Sony will implement their online service here.