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Verizon Rolling Out Nextel-Like PTT Service
aberson writes "Verizon Wireless announced today that it is rolling out a PTT (push to talk) phone service, targetted at business customers. They claim better coverage, 'presence' (away/available), and wireless web for about $10 more than Nextel and $10 more than a non-PTT Verizon plan. Pricing doesn't mention how 'high-speed' data will roll into this (which you can't get on Nextel), but you are using the CDMA2000 network to essentially do VoIP. If only it could be something cross-networkable like Sonim. Just wait a few months for the other carriers to catch up and cellular number portability to be enforced. Ironically, you can only get it on a Motorola made phone. Also, Verizon seems to be not caring about Nextel trying to copyright a generic technical term."
Sprint is about to launch a PTT VoIP solution as well, if they can overcome the technical issues. PTT VoIP is harder than it sounds, given the need for authentication, etc... unless you like waiting 30 seconds after you push the button to talk :)
..Also means "Post Telegraph & Telephone". A lot of European countries used to have a single, government run, phone and postal service; PTT remains shorthand for ex-State telephone companies, like "ma Bell". (And as such it has negative connotations to the point that all telcos are moving away from that name..)
SCO employee? Check out the bounty
Sorry..
Verizon Wireless want to attract the same type of customer as Nextel, one that is willing to pay $20 more a month for the walkie-talkie feature. Nextel's service is popular with groups such as constructions crews and financial traders. Sprint Corp.'s PCS unit has said it will introduce a similar product this year.
From their site:
Express Network is capable of data speeds bursting up to 144 kbps, delivering average speeds up to 40 to 60 kbps. You may experience slower data speeds.
Must not...point out difference...between copyright and trademark...yet again...not...strong..enough!
You know when your relatives say they need 3 gigs of memory to install a game, or ask why they don't just put the hard disk in the TV screen, or why a computer needs to be plugged in if it is wireless? That's what it is like to read the same trademark/copyright/patent goofs made over and over and over again.
Trademarks are solely for marks used in trade. ie "We bring good things to life", a slogan, an icon, a piece of IDENTITY. You get trademarks so that consumers will not be confused about who produced a product. If you stop using a trademark (or it becomes common, no longer distinct to your company), you can lose it. It's sole purpose is to protect companies from imitators.
Copyrights are for the right to copy creative works. ie, novels, poems, computer programs, paintings, etc. You never have to sell, buy or process anything to get a copyright. it cannot be lost no matter what, but you can give it away or sell it. It is to protect AUTHORS, not companies or money (at least in theory).
Patents are for novel inventions (and lately, processes). You can't patent a book, or a painting, or a slogan, because they don't do anything. It protects inventors, not writers or marketing folks.
Recursive: Adj. See Recursive.
If you allreadt have established a connection to someone all you do is press the button then talk. If you make many small phonecalls a day the service is perfect. Many craftsmen and workers are using it, for them its perfect, and the phone cost actyally goes down as you don't have to hold the line forever.
Currently the phone companies charges a premium for PTT, but I guess its only reasonable since the service is new and pretty high tech. The phone companies have invested a lot of money in this, but now they can sent the conversation in small packets over the IP-network.
At my company we just got this and I'm vert satisfied, monitoring of the workers are easier and takes less time. At the same time the productivity went up, so we can charge our customers more fore the time we work.
Proud patriot and republican voter.
Somebody needs to look up "ironic" in the dictionary.
Why is is ironic that this feature is available on a Motorola phone?
The best way I can describe PTT when compared to a standard voice conversation is that PTT is almost like a voice SMS. It's useful for communicating short bursts of information quickly.
Advantages to PTT/"Direct Connect (TM)" is that as soon as you push the button, you're connected to the other party - you don't have to wait while the other end rings and for them to pick up. Also, communication using PTT is closer to a walkie talkie than a phone conversation.
Example:
Them: *chirp* (press the button and release it to page them, indicating you want to talk to them)
Me: "Go."
Them: "What's your 20?"
Me: "3rd and Maple."
Them: "Copy. Need assistance?"
Me: "Negative. Thanks."
As you can see, it can be a little quicker than a phone conversation. Additionally since the mike is only on while you have the button pressed, I typically am doing other things at the same time, like talking to others, without the other end hearing it.
The advantages are mostly visible when you have an entire department or company equipped with PTT phones. If you are the only one, then PTT is kind of silly, admittedly.
Evolution Data Only will be over 2 Megabits.. currently in testing in the beltline area of Washington State..
:)
Also by Verizon Wireless not to be confused with Verizon
You can get info here
Shouldn't packet switching and TDMA like technologies make the walkie-talkie limitations irrelevant?
Wireless providers are not rolling this out to save bandwidth... they are rolling it out to court business users utilizing trunked (or even conventional) radio systems.
The providers see this as a way of being the "killer app" for dispatch-based businesses that rely on rapid easy broadcast communications.
Trunked radio systems are limited by a service area and reception issues. Cellular wireless providers already have blanket networks in urban areas (for the most part) with coverage extending way out into the rural areas.
In short, businesses can dump trunked radio in favor of this for less per month and get more coverage.
On an unrelated note, what the heck is up with Slashdot lately? It's sluggish as all hell!
All opinions presented here aren't mine.
I hate to tell you, but GSM is a TDMA system. UMTS, the 3G system which is supposed to replace GSM, is CDMA.
something clever
By and large, you are correct, but...
:)
You are somehow "coded" to each other, so you can only talk/listen to the people you care about (family/boss/whatever)
Not true. I've always been able to DirectConnect with any other Nextel users (co-workers, my limo driver) regardless of the area I'm in, even when not my home area. Plus, now that Philadelphia "came online" a month ago and I work near NYC, I've started to get some "wrong number" DirectConnects coming out of Philly. Its important to note that the cross-market DirectConnects are only paid for by the originators, not both parties, as cell minutes are usually charged. I have special pricing and features available to me as an IBM employee, and one feature is "Cross Fleet", so that may explain why I've always been able to connect with literally any Nextel user. You "dial" a DirectConnect session as a regular phone number but as xxx*yy*zzzz and then hit the PTT button (hitting "alert" first is kinder) instead of "Send"
Also, will only work if your on the same network, and probably have the same plan.
Also not true. Each plan participant must pay for DirectConnect minutes in some way shape or form. I am on the Free Incoming 400 with 400 peak outbound mins, free incoming cell calls 24x7, free nights & weekends, with unlimited local (included) and cross-market ($10) DirectConnect. My wife is on a zero minute plan with unlimited local DirectConnect included. The IBM contract gives her 100 bonus cellular minutes, which she never exhausts. If she needs to talk to me, she alerts me for free, and I DC back to her cross-market.
And all of the comments about public use of the 2-way are absolutely correct. They are annoying as hell. I want to walk up to people DC'ing in a restaurant and show them how to turn off their speakerphone. I have approached cell nirvana, that is, having a consistent bill for basically unlimited use (and minimizing it), but my main gripes about the carrier are the coverage. Living in Philly and working in New York leaves few dead spots, however. Unless of course someone hacks the power grid, then all bets are off
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