Did Sony Really Sneak the PS3 Slim Past the US Government?

The image you can see in this story comes from an April 2009 FCC (Federal Communications Commission) document. It shows that a 250Gb Computer Entertainment system with the product number CECH-2001B has been supplied for testing. Above that listing is a product numbered CECH-2001A, it's a 120Gb unit.

Surely, these are PS3 Slims being tested? Yes, a 250Gb one as well as the released 120Gb one.

But no, the document refers to product testing being carried out on behalf of a company called Sand Dollar Enterprises, Inc, not Sony. But wait, Sand Dollar's address in Foster City is registered to Sony.

Three things of major interest here: firstly, the 120Gb entertainment unit cited in the test report doesn't have the same product code as the PS3 Slim as released (CECH-2000A). Secondly, the idea that there is also a 250Gb model in the offing could be a red herring given that, thirdly, Sony was apparently able to use another company name to legally get a consumer electronics unit tested by a US federal authority.

All that said, Occam's razor would suggest that, yes, despite a minor serial number difference combined with a mild change of address, there is a 250Gb PS3 slim out there.

The full document is available here - but be aware that for some reason the FCC can't get its website sorted, so the doc will download as 'retrieve.cgi' - just rename it as a pdf and you have a little bit of history in your drive.

^{Sources:
Joystiq
Engadget
PS3news}