SCEA to transfer its online services, including PS wallet and funds, to SNEA

SCEA has announced that on April 1, it will transfer its online services operations, including PSN users' PS wallets and the funds in it, to Sony Network Entertainment America (SNEA).

According to the mail being sent out to users, the first time you sign in to your Sony Online Services account on or after April 1, you will be asked to enter into a new Terms of Service and User Agreement with SNEA.

"If you do not wish to enter into a contract with SNEA, you may decline the terms of service and we will close your account(s) and return your funds," said the mail. If you wish to look over the new agreement, click here.

Sony said in the mail PSN will "continue to provide you with the highest standard of interactive entertainment," with all former access to remain intact.

This is the first step towards the expansion of PlayStation Network which will see Sony expand its book, game, music and video offerings through both PSN and Qriocity, something which CEO Kaz Hirai alluded to at CES.

While winking around about the rumored PS Phone at the time, Hirai said the firm would “of course” be taking advantage of achievements across all Sony divisions by developing “products that leverage Sony’s greatest assets”.

"In 2011, you will start to see an implementation of a strategy we've developed and continually refined over the past 18 months," he said in January. "And you will see this strategy executed in the form of great new products and services coming to market that leverage Sony's strongest assets.

"In addition to launching a line of Sony tablets, we'll be building upon the video, music, game and book offerings on our Qriocity and our PlayStation Network services to deliver a compelling, unique experience for Sony across a wide range of consumer electronic devices."