Motorola and NII Holdings announce US launch of PRIP, a push-to-talk service for Android
Sprint's iDEN network may have just recently shut off for good, but push-to-talk (PTT) technology isn't gone. Today, Motorola launched PRIP, a PTT platform that works using mobile data or WiFi networks. The service launched in Mexico a month ago, but now PRIP's available to US residents in Google Play, provided their phones are running Android 2.3 or later -- an iOS version's arriving in the coming weeks. For now, folks who sign up can use the service free for the first month, after which it'll cost users a $7.99 monthly fee. It's not exactly the cheapest form of communication, but hey, its a small price to pay for instant access to all of PRIP's users, right?
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NII HOLDINGS AND MOTOROLA MOBILITY PARTNER TO LAUNCH PRIP™ PUSH-TO-TALK
IN THE U.S.
PRIP connects U.S. wireless subscribers to Nextel Mexico and other Nextel subscribers in Latin America via Push-to-Talk (PTT)
RESTON, Va. / LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., July 8, 2013 – NII Holdings, Inc. [NASDAQ: NIHD], a provider of differentiated mobile communication services under the Nextel brand in Latin America, and Motorola Mobility, today announced the launch of PRIP™, an advanced Push-to-Talk (PTT) service, in the United States.
PRIP is now available for download from Google Play, providing users in the U.S. with instant PTT connections to NII's 11 million subscribers in Mexico, Brazil and across Latin America as well as other PRIP users in the U.S. Compatible with more than 95 percent of Android smartphones on the market, PRIP offers fast and immediate connections allowing users to communicate from anywhere in the world with a wireless or Wi-Fi connection.
"After the successful launch of PRIP in Mexico in April, we are pleased to roll out this service to users in the U.S.," said Greg Santoro, executive vice president, chief strategy and marketing officer for NII Holdings. "With PRIP, NII and Motorola Mobility are expanding the ecosystem of PTT users and providing those affected by the recent iDEN® shutdown in the U.S. with an affordable and instant PTT alternative to stay in contact with their business colleagues, friends, family and with our 11 million subscribers in Mexico, Brazil and our other markets in Latin America."
Built upon Motorola Mobility's Push-to-Talk technology, the gold standard for PTT services, PRIP works on any wireless carrier network and Wi-Fi. The application is currently available for Android devices with the Gingerbread version (Android 2.3) or later, and is expected to be available on the iPhone in the coming weeks.
"We are excited to continue our strategic partnership with NII as we launch PRIP in the U.S," said Greg Page, vice president and general manager for iDEN, Motorola Mobility. "PRIP continues Motorola Mobility's longstanding history of providing the highest quality PTT services for customers who demand instant communication."
Unlimited PTT calls are available on PRIP for $7.99 per month on Google Play. For a limited time only, customers who sign up will receive their first month free. For further information on PRIP, we invite you to visit http://prip.me.
