PlayStation OS Update Includes PlayStation Plus Rollout, Facebook Additions

Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced the PlayStation 3 system update v3.40 will launch 'soon', and will include the PlayStation Plus subscription service and Facebook integration features. Playstation Plus is a paid subscription service for the Playstation Network announced during E3, which allows players to access new features and applications. The company plans to let PS3 owners try out PlayStation Plus for free for three months before choosing from several subscription options: $17.99 (€14.99) for 90 days and $49.99 (€49.99) for 365 days. Subscribers will receive early access to betas and demos, a photo gallery, a video editor and that allows uploading to Facebook and YouTube, a five-star rating system for PlayStation Store content, and automated power save settings for the PS3 console. The upcoming v6.30 update for PSP will add PlayStation Plus to the handheld platform as well. Services previously available on the PlayStation Network will remain unchanged and will not require a paid subscription. The update will also allow users to integrate their PlayStation Network accounts with their Facebook profiles via an upcoming application for the Facebook platform. Users will have the ability to share their PSN information, send PSN invites, and check the online status of their PSN friends via Facebook.