Sony considering Xbox Live-like service
 

Sony may have a lot of things going for it in the gaming business, but one thing they don't have is a competing service to Xbox Live. Sony has steered clear of the managed online gaming service business, and for good reason. Microsoft has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on their online offering, but analysts to date have expressed doubts as to whether or not it really adds to the company's bottom line in a meaningful way.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060118-6006.html