Sony Computer Entertainment unveiled a slimmer and more lightweight version of its PS2 game console in Taipei last Friday, and the company will begin shipping the product in Taiwan on November 3

The new ?mini? version of the PS2, model SCPH-70007CB, has only 25% of the internal volume of the original PS2, weighs half as much and is only 2.8cm thick, down from 7.8cm. Sony expects sales of the new mini version PS2 to reach 100,000 units in Taiwan within one year of the launch, according to sources at SCE Taiwan branch.

The sources noted that Sony will begin phasing out the current PS2 model, following the introduction of the new version.

Sony has shipped over 73 million PS2 consoles worldwide, since the company started marketing the product four-and-a-half years ago, the sources said.

The sources also indicated that Sony will launch its new console, the PSP (PlayStation Portable), in the first quarter of 2005.

From DigiTimes