Sony have stated that the site is to be closed in March 08, and we are advised to check the website for updates on dates etc. The site is being closed as they feel the market is shifting away from the ATRAC format, and toward more conventional MP3 files instead. In all honesty, the MP3 format does enjoy a wider support than the ATRAC.

There does seem to be some confusion amongst PSP owners as to whether existing ATRAC formatted music will continue to work after the planned closure date. The word is however than any music you currently have will be fine on existing machines only-there will be no fresh downloads at any point, and any new technology developed or released is unlikely to support the ATRAC format.

This closure could be a real stumbling block for Sony, who some people had projected would be beating out Itunes with their CONNECT service. This hasn’t been the case however, as Itunes continues to grow in popularity and CONNECT has received its death warrant. On the other side of the fence however, Itunes seems to grow each passing week, and their catalogue of downloads is expanding exponentially.

If you’re a PSP owner worried about these developments, I wouldn’t be too concerned. It’s a simple enough job to transfer any of your existing files across to MP3, and to be perfectly honest it’s much easier to get MP3s these days, so there will be no issues with any new technology releases from Sony.

In fact, if you search the right places on the web, you’ll find more than a few sites and organizations that will allow you to download completely free MP3 files. I’m not talking about the dodgy torrent sites either, this newer sites are legit businesses. Typically there is an admin fee to pay beforehand, maybe $35 or so, and that then covers you for a lifetime of free highspeed downloads. The best thing is that it includes games and movies, not just MP3s.

With all the free downloads I’m getting now, I just can’t be too sad about CONNECT closing.