The online service for Sony’s PlayStation 3 has been labelled PlayStation Network Platform and should be up and running by the time the console is launched in early November, SCE President, Ken Kutaragi, announced.

New information continues to roll in from Wednesdays business brief, where Kutaragi revealed new and more specific details about the the PS3’s online service, Japanese Game Watch reports.

Unlike Microsoft’s Xbox Live service, gamers will be able to play games free, initially at least, on the PlayStation Network Platform.

Along with the basic service being free of charge, Sony will also offer full support for online development titles, with all necessary services and functions provided.

Kutaragi gave an overview of the PlayStation Network Platform at the brief and mentioned a number of the key features that can be expected, including voice and video chat, messaging, matchmaking and game data uploading and downloading.

Users will also be able to shop and sell items and downloads online.

Kutaragi admitted that the service still needed plenty more work, but said everything was being done to make sure it was ready for the PlayStation 3 launch.

“The PS Network Platform is the most incomplete and highest priority thing for us to do from now on,” he said.

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