PS Vita and 3g

PlayStation has always been synonymous with gaming to me. Ever since I was introduced to the PS1 through Spyro and Crash Bandicoot, Playstation has been my go to system. So when the PS Vita was announced I was undestandably excited about what Sony had up it's sleve. But the decision to release a 3g model was a little puzzling to me.

        Now before you stop reading and write this off as another Vita doom and gloom article hear me out. I WILL be purchasing one at launch. I WILL support it throughout it's lifecycle. But I will NOT buy a 3g model. In a world full of 3g phones and tablets, it baffles me as to why Sony thinks consumers are willing to pay and extra $15-$25 a month for 3g on a device that doesn't have a calling feature. Sure it can do Facebook and Twitter, but so can a smartphone (besides, do we really need social networking on a "gaming" device). If the PS Vitas competition is however much gamers hate to admit it, mobile gaming, then why is Sony releasing a product that costs more and does less? One Japanese reatailer already slashed the price of the Vitas 3g SKU, so the question really is, who needs a 3g Vita when the same service is offered on the Vitas competitor? We'll just have to wait until Feb.22 so see how many 3g units Sony can move.