According to an unconfirmed report published by tech blog Engadget, Sony Ericsson is developing a Playstation-branded Android smartphone with a new gaming ecosystem.

The report, citing “a trusted source” for the forthcoming device’s leaked details, has stated that the upcoming phone will essentially be a cross between “the Samsung Captivate and the PSP Go.”

As per Engadget, the new Sony Ericsson handset will make use of PSP-style controls rather than a traditional QWERTY keyboard, and will feature a 3.7 x 4.1 in. display with at least WVGA resolution; a 5-megapixel camera; and a
1 GHz Snapdragon processor.

In addition, the phone will also slide open from the side to unveil a D-pad, PSP buttons, shoulder triggers, and a touch pad for analog control.

With the upcoming Sony Ericsson phone reportedly to run Android 3.0 - also called Gingerbread -, the device will likely create a new game-specific area of the Android Market. The games that would be probably be ported from the PSP or PSX library, may also be brought to other Android handsets, given that they meet certain specification and control requirements.

With the report also giving an October this year timeline for the potential release of the new Sony Ericsson phone, it is being speculated that the device will pioneer an Android dedicated gaming ecosystem as well as the long-rumored PSP phone combination.