Sony announced in early January that the Sony PSP would support Skype by the end of January. Today Sony announced that they would delay the Sony PSP Skype features because the new PSP microphones are not meeting the Skype specifications needed to obtain certification.

Sony planned to introduce the PSPJ-15010 (single pack) and PSPJ-15011 (twin pack) microphones in Japan tomorrow. Update: Just confirmed with Sony PR, the delay of Skype support on the PSP is only in Japan. For the U.S. and Europe the Skype PSP firmware is coming at the end of January.

Because of these hardware issues, Sony is not rolling out the Sony PSP firmware with the Skype features this month in Japan. Sony is working on a new release schedule for Skype on the Sony PSP.

Skype on the Sony PSP would offer these features:

• Free voice calls between Skype users
• Skype contact list management (view existing contacts, add new ones)
• Skype presence (see which friends are online and available to talk)
• SkypeOut calls to make calls to landlines and mobile phones anywhere in the world (requires the purchase of Skype credit)
• Optional SkypeIn number that lets users receive calls on Skype from landlines and mobiles anywhere in the world (requires the purchase of Skype credit)
• View and modify Skype settings and account details (including username creation, SkypeOut settings, voicemail settings and call forwarding)