Lonely Planet launches guides on PSP

Travel guide brand Lonely Planet and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) have joined forces to launch a series of interactive city guides for use with the PlayStationPortable (PSP).

To be called "Passport to" the guides will be available on PSP’s universal media disc format (UMD) and are being rolled out this month. The first six cover European cities Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Paris, Prague and Rome.

The range is to be sold in 110 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand through high street entertainment and grocery outlets, as well as selected stockists of Lonely Planet guidebooks.

Lonely Planet, which has more than 500 titles in 15 languages, is offering consumers immediate access to dynamic content, including film, audio, photography and written content. A dedicated website, www.PSPpassport.com, will offer downloadable material, meaning the guides are continually relevant and up to date.

Helen Hewitt, product marketing manager at Lonely Planet, says: "Our partnership with Sony allows us to extend our product range by offering a new type of interactive guidebook; designed to meet the evolving needs of the technology-savvy traveller."

The guides include details on 250 bars, clubs, hotels, shops, services and attractions, interactive maps, bespoke photo and video, three "off-the-beaten track" audio tours to key areas of each city, pre-planned itineraries from arts tours to eating out, and audio language guides.

Marketing support across EMEA, Australia and New Zealand will be handled by the local territory networks of SCEE and Lonely Planet, with above and below-the-line collateral supplied by advertising agency TBWA and communications consultancy Four Communications.