Sony Ericsson has named the date mobile gamers will be able to get their hands on the Playstation Phone, March.

Branded as Xperia PLAY the handset boasts a four inch multi-touch screen and a slide out controller.

This will enable players to forego the clumsy on screen finger jabbing of other smartphones for an experience which is more akin to traditional gaming.

The device is the first to comply with Sony’s Playstation certification scheme, giving the gadget access to a range of classic titles.

Leading publishers are signed up to the device, amongst them Electronic Arts who are bringing versions of Sims 3, Need for Speed and FIFA 10 to the handy machine.

Orange, T-Mobile, O2, 3 and Vodafone will all carry the handset in the UK.