80GB PS3 Launching in South Korea

The highly-anticipated 80GB version of the PlayStation 3 will launch in South Korea on June 16 as the sole version of the console available in that country.

The launch indicates that the higher-capacity PS3 model could be the company's standard console from here on out, as well as possibly signaling an imminent debut elsewhere in the world within months.

Sony's current public stance on the availability of the new model is that it has "no plans" to introduce it outside of Korea. But having gained FCC approval in the United States indicates that Sony intends to eventually sell it in the US.

No mentions of the 20GB or 60GB versions appeared in Korean press information announcing the release date, which seems to indicate Sony plans to continue its recent policy of focusing on manufacturing the top-of-the-line consoles due to higher sales.

While the decision to announce the 80GB PS3 in South Korea before its home country of Japan may seem strange, Sony actually has a valid reason for this strategy. The country's broadband network is one of the most pervasive in the world.

Sony wants to increasingly market the console as an entertainment center, something Microsoft has successfully done with the Xbox 360. With South Koreans already heavy users of online media, the country was a logical choice.