Sony has today reiterated that consumer trials of its online broadband multiplayer gaming service for PlayStation2 owners in the UK will begin on 31st March.

A full commercial launch is expected later this spring, allowing Sony to go head to head with Microsoft's own service for X-Box owners, X-Box Live.

Sony and Microsoft are enlisting European Internet Service Provider and cable broadband partners to help market, and, in the case of Sony, provide computer server capacity and handle some billing activities.

Microsoft has signed on 15 ISP partners across Europe, including BT Group in the UK, Wanadoo in France and T-Online in Germany.

Sony is still forging deals with ISPs across Europe; in Britain its partners include BT, Telewest, NTL and Freeserve. The British trials are seen as an important proving ground for the viability of online gaming, the company said.

For ISPs online gaming is seen as an enticement to winning new consumers and a way to increasing average revenues per user.Sony will sell its adaptor kits, which includes a headset and a multi-player-ready version of "SOCOM: US Navy Seals," for £40 in the UK.

Microsoft will sell its adaptors, which also includes a headset, trial versions of three online games and a free annual subscription for gameplay for £39 in the UK.