In just a few years video gaming consoles that allow you only to play games would be called simply strange. Although they were originally created for playing games (they are video gaming consoles after all, aren’t they?), these smart gadgets’ functions started to expand more and more in the recent period.

So, while Microsoft announced a deal with BT Group PLC, which will allow the former to expand its video gaming consoles’ entertainment capabilities and to offer users the possibility to watch TV on their consoles, Sony was also reported to have signed a partnership with Skype, the company offering one of the most popular VoIP services. Through this move Sony’s PlayStation Portable game player is planned to get an Internet phone function.

According to the Nikkei business daily’s Saturday report, it seems that Skype’s software will become available as early as this month. By downloading the software, the PSP users will become able to make free Web-based phone calls with other PSP users, as well as with users of PCs running Skype.

The new service is reportedly designed for Sony’s latest PlayStation Portable model, launched in September.

Satoshi Fukuoka, Sony Computer Entertainment’s spokesman, declined to comment on Nikkei’s report, but he said that the company’s game unit is currently studying ways to add value to the PSP.

Sony’s gaming device has trailed rival Nintendo DS in sales since their launches about three years ago. Adding the popular Voice-over-IP service to PSP might be both an interesting and successful move for Sony!