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Verizon PTT (Push To Talk) vs Nextel's Direct Connect?
Amp300 asks: "I am currently a Verizon Wireless customer in the Detroit area. I am thinking about getting a Motorola v60p and upgrading to the Verizon's new PTT (Push To Talk) service. Is anyone familiar with the v60p? I have heard the battery life leaves a little to be desired. I am familiar with Nextel's Direct Connect, but I have been told that the two services are slightly different. I was wondering if someone could make an educated comparison of the two services?"
why do both services mimic CBs? Why are they so loud that I can hear what both parties are saying? Why do people shout when using them? And why must they emit that anoying beep?
It's a phone. Sure, implement PTT if you must, but make it work like a phone. The user must be able to keep the phone next to his ear and speak in a normal voice.
In addition to what ross_winn said (who should be moderated Informative, please), I should add:
I also work for a Verizon Wireless agent, not Verizon directly.
In addition to having a much larger network that PTT with Verizon will operate on, there are a few other advantages:
As he mentioned, the v60p is much smaller than most Nextel's.. as far as I know, it's smaller than ALL Nextels.. It's the same as a regular v60 with a third button on the side.
I have yet to hear about battery time - I haven't received these at my location yet.
If nothing else, the fact that there's only one phone number going on.. Nextels have a seperate number for the two-way and the telephone functions. Verizon only has one.
I did just have three guys come in looking for them because "the line to get one at the Verizon store wrapped around the store". I'd believe it.
Someone said that Nextel had zero lag time, but I just can't possibly believe that. Nextel uses a modified cell system to send things around, so there's got to be a lag time there somewhere. Verizon initiates a connection if you're doing a 1-to-1 push to talk, so after the initial lag time, as long as you don't let the connection time out (i don't know how long that is) there is almost no lag time after.
"Champagne for my real friends - and real pain for my sham friends!" http://ericblade.postalboard.com/
I work at a Very large landscaping company, until friday when I move to college.
Anyways, I'm the yard boy, I load everything from bags of mulch and sod, to running the bobcat or loader and loading trucks and trailers with soil or mulch.
My company uses Nextel radios. Basically, any one who is a not a laborer(the guys who do nothing but sit on their ass all day and drive dumptrucks, they don't get one, they use a motorola CB type setup) gets one, that means every foreman, equipment operator, and everyone on up to the owner has one, and is on my list.
It works incredibly well.
A typical conversation goes as such
BEEP BEEP
"Logan, copy"
"No, STFU"
"I need 3 bags of mulch and 20 pieces of sod loaded"
"Bitch say what" (this must be said very quickly and quietly)
"what?, repeat that please"
"copy that, 3 mulch, 20 sod"
The only problem I have with them is
1. The batteries barely make it through a 12 hour day, sometimes, and sometimes they are fine. It could be because I have an older phone and battery though, about 1.5 years old.
2. Its to easy to accidently call someone, I bump the button while in the bobcat all the time, cause the seat belt is right there. There should be two buttons to hold down to initiate a call.
3. Sometimes the voice is garbled, even though I have full tower.
4. The plastic belt clips are prone to breakage, but I do beat them quite a bit, I jump off the loader all the time, and always hit the damn phone up against stuff. But I've had to replace the clip 4 times this summer.
Other than that, its awsome to be able to quickly talk to anyone I need to right then and there.
I'm one of the non-believers, I guess. I'm often in situations (theatre usually) where I don't want my phone making noise. My phone is on vibrate only mode nearly 24x7.
Also, I often let calls go to voice mail if it isn't a convenient time to talk. I do this not only when I need to be silent, but also when I'm just in the middle of something and don't want to be interupted.
Finally, I work in a building that shields cell phone transmissions. Several times a day I will get close to a window and my voice mail indicator will let me know how many people left messages and I can call them back.
How would PTT deal with any of these, quite common, situations?