ptt
Latest
Casio's G'zOne Boulder launches today on Verizon
The second piece in Verizon's EV-DO Rev. A push-to-talk puzzle is getting pushed out the door today -- so if you weren't feeling last week's Motorola Adventure V750 launch, you've got another option to check out. The rugged G'zOne Boulder from Casio brings an integrated compass, 1.3 megapixel cam, VZ Navigator support, and a microSD slot; it's available both in orange / black and black / silver, but at launch, only the silver version will be optionally available without a camera. Look for it to start trickling through the standard retail channels today for $179.99 before a $50 rebate on a new two-year contract.%Gallery-28629%
Verizon launches Motorola Adventure V750 with Rev. A push-to-talk support
Verizon has gone ahead and jumped its own gun by a week, launching the rugged Adventure V750 today for a penny under $100 on contract after rebates. The phone becomes the very first on Verizon's network to support Rev. A-based push-to-talk, a quantum leap in robustness and functionality over the older 1xRTT fare; the G'zOne Boulder is expected in the next few weeks, bringing Big Red a pair of durable units that should appeal to the typical PTT crowd. Buyers of the V750 can expect a 2 megapixel camera, external music controls, microSD expansion, GPS, and of course EV-DO Rev. A data, so it's a pretty well-spec'd setup considering its lot in life.[Via phoneArena]
Sprint takes QChat to new round of markets
Sprint's now well beyond the promised 40 opening markets for its QChat-based Direct Connect network, announcing that an additional 14 are available as of this week. In addition to network availability, that means subscribers in those areas can now stroll into their local shop and pick up the Sanyo PRO-200 and PRO-700, LG LX400, and Samsung Z400. Headliners on the new list include Phoenix, much of New York state, and Minnesota. Feeling the heat yet, iDEN?[Via Phone Scoop]
Motorola V750 Adventure comes to Verizon July 28
So how much is it going to cost you to play Verizon's EV-DO Rev. A push-to-talk game this month? $99.99, that's how much -- assuming you take advantage of a two-year contract and a $50 mail-in rebate. Documentation for Motorola's musclebound V750 Adventure suggests that it'll be available to buy in all channels (meaning web, store, telesales -- you name it) on July 28, offering a 2 megapixel cam, microSD slot, VZ Navigator support, and all the walkie talkie action you can handle. We don't know yet whether the G'zOne Boulder will launch on the same day, but if it does, we could have quite a PTT smackdown brewing here.[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Verizon's new PTT: presence support, more contacts
Training materials from Verizon break down the nitty gritty on just what makes its new EV-DO Rev. A-based push-to-talk network better than the outgoing 1xRTT-based system, and apart from a totally unnecessary cameo by the "Can you hear me now?" guy, it's pretty enlightening. First, we learn that users will now be able to rock 500 individual contacts, 100 group contacts, and 50 contacts per group, up from 150, 50, and 20, respectively. As we've known, it'll also support presence, meaning callers will know whether you're available to annoy everyone around you before they hit the button. The slides on the two launch devices -- the Motorola V750 Adventure and Casio G'zOne Boulder -- don't reveal much new information, but we do see here that the black / silver version of the Boulder will be available with or without a camera for companies that like to clamp down on those sorts of things. See the rest after the break.[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Sprint's Sanyo Pro-700 and Pro-200 QChat devices get fondled
Unmistakable, aren't they? Sure, it may have a new and fancy name, but QChat-enabled PTT devices aren't fooling anyone. Sprint's latest and greatest are both humming along on the EV-DO Rev. A network -- a must for QChat devices -- the Sanyo Pro-700 (on left) in a tough military fit and finish, and the Pro-200 a perfect fir for ma and pa. The gents at PhoneArena have had a quick mitts-on, so head on over if you're curious to get at a pile more pics of some pretty hot push-to-talk action.
Motorola's V750 for Verizon flexes its mil-spec muscle
If there's one thing Motorola knows how to do, it knows how to make rugged push-to-talk phones. With eons of iDEN experience under its belt, it's hard to argue Moto doesn't have the right stuff in that department. As iDEN makes room in the PTT limelight for EV-DO-based systems, it was starting to look like the durability of the devices was going to take a hit in favor of fashion, but the V750 looks ready to buck the trend. Previous press shots we saw didn't really do a very good job of conveying the upcoming Verizon device's rugged nature, but from freshly leaked promo materials, we see that it'll meet military specifications for shock, vibration, sun exposure, temperature, altitude, and dust. That's quite a list, and it's a big ol' heap of peace of mind for a good many Nextel customers planning on making the leap.
Sprint says QChat to be in 40 markets shortly
Is that iDEN's swan song we hear playing in the background? Nope, apparently not. Buried in between fits of bad news in Sprint's earnings call yesterday, CEO Dan Hesse chatted up the rollout of its next-gen PTT network, based on Qualcomm's QChat technology that rides atop EV-DO Rev. A. Currently available in just a very small handful of markets -- and only to business customers, at that -- Hesse says that the new Direct Connect goods will be available in 40 markets over the next few months, and on a full 80 percent of its EV-DO Rev. A network by the end of 2008. That setup gives Sprint a nice migration path from its legacy Nextel network, but interestingly, Hesse says that the company's "economic analysis" suggests that it should actually keep running iDEN and QChat side by side. Of course, if this is the same nature of "economic analysis" that got it into the financial pickle it's currently in, it might just be worth... you know, reanalyzing.[Via mocoNews]
New Casio G'zOne "Boulder" hits FCC, likely for Verizon's new PTT
The FCC has mercifully approved a new rugged G'zOne model from Casio named "Boulder," bearing a dual-band CDMA radio with EV-DO. If we had to wager a guess, we'd have to say the flip is likely the c711 we heard about a few days back, meaning that it'll be one of the very first devices to support Verizon's new EV-DO Rev. A-based push-to-talk service -- which as we learned, is most definitely not QChat. Little else is known about the device from the FCC filing, but we imagine we'll be hearing about it straight from Big Red in the not-too-distant future.[Via Phone Scoop]
Sprint pushing national QChat launch back to June 15?
Looks like we might all be waiting just a few more weeks before we're given the green light to descend into the next generation of push-to-talk nirvana (or hell, depending on your perspective). phoneArena is claiming that the national release of Sprint's QChat-powered PTT system -- and the phones to go along with it -- has been pushed back to June 15, though it's not known whether the delay's due to technical issues, a desire to have all of the new phones available on shelves at once, CEO Dan Hesse's whim, or something else entirely. For what it's worth, business customers in Denver and Kansas City already have access to the Sanyo PRO handsets, so you guys should really revel in your exclusivity while you still can.
Verizon's next-gen PTT is not QChat
Sprint contacted us today to let us know that it owns the exclusive North American rights to Qualcomm's QChat PTT technology, which raised a very interesting question: what the heck is Verizon using, then? PhoneNews is suggesting that Big Red's actually using an upgraded version of BREWChat, Qualcomm's old-skool PTT system that had originally been developed for and deployed on 1x networks. If true, that'd be a big ol' scoop of irony, considering that BREWChat had been billed all along as a precursor to QChat that would offer seamless upgrades to the newer system -- but since Sprint scored exclusivity on it, it's possible that Qualcomm is doing everything it can to skirt the issue and score some extra cash by hooking up BREWChat with some of its newer technology's goodies. We'll update this one as we know more.[Via phoneArena]
Details emerge on Verizon's PTT entrants from Motorola and Casio
Remember how we said Verizon was prepping a next-gen PTT launch right behind Sprint? It's still on, and we're starting to get a trickle of intel on at least two devices that'll spearhead the festivities. The first is going to be -- yep, you guess it -- a Motorola, the V750 flip to be exact. The other is going to be the next episode in Casio's G'zOne series of niche-but-popular outdoorsy handsets, which will be known as the c711. Both feature EV-DO (including tethering capability), GPS, Bluetooth, cameras, media capability, and a fat ton of onboard memory, while the G'zOne adds a compass and "rugged styling," which we think is code for "it's not as tough as it looks." We're not sure whether these are still on track for a May launch, but that V750 we saw sure looked ready for prime time, didn't it?
MetroPCS extends push-to-talk to wireline users
MetroPCS has come up with a novel -- and long overdue -- concept where push-to-talkers can now irritate wireline subscribers, too. Kodiac Networks, which is behind the ChatLink service has stated this is the first system that will see PTT extended to users without a client. MetroPCS subscribers will now have the ability to create a friends network of up to 10 people and by simply hitting any key on their phone will be able to join in the push-to-talk fun. The service is set to cost only $5 per month, so what you waiting for, Unlimit Yourself.
LG LX400, Motorola V950, and pair of Samsungs round out Sprint's QChat fare
As we've long known, Sanyo isn't the only company contributing goodies to the opening volley of CDMA Direct Connect devices for Sprint -- LG, Motorola, and Samsung all want in on the action, too. LG brings the LX400, featuring a 1.3 megapixel camera in a burgundy shell; it's not our cup of tea, but folks looking for something on the non-rugged side of the PTT spectrum might find their soulmate here. Next up, the Motorola V950 is pretty notable since it marks Moto's inevitable foray away from its own iDEN tech and toward something just a little more modern to support the push-to-talk functionality its users so deeply love. It's a media powerhouse, too, thanks to external music controls, a microSD slot, stereo Bluetooth, and a 2 megapixel cam. Finally, Samsung comes to the table with two models: the rubberized Z400 (surprisingly appearing to be the most hardcore of the foursome) that trades consumer-friendly features for a tough shell -- though they've still felt the need to slap a 1.3 megapixel cam on there -- and the Z700, a fancy, refined set that looks fit for duty in the most fancy of pockets and shares much of its spec sheet with the Moto V950. Pricing and availability haven't been announced for any of the four, but we imagine they'll be pretty reasonable given the overall modesty across the line.
Sanyo's Pro-200 and Pro-700 Direct Connect handsets get official
Fresh out of the FCC's lair comes a new pair of QChat-enabled mobiles ready to launch on Sprint: Sanyo's Pro-200 and Pro-700. Unsurprisingly getting official at CTIA, the pair of Nextel Direct Connect devices can handle all the hot PTT action you could ask for, and while the Pro-200 (shown above) checks in with Bluetooth, messaging capabilities and mobile e-mail, the beefier brother (pictured after the jump) touts a ruggedized shell "certified to military standards for dust, shock and vibration." Curiously, the duo is only expected to go on sale in "limited markets" this month, with availability popping up elsewhere in due time; those eager to get their chirp on can plan on dropping $49.99 / $69.99 on contract, respectively.[Thanks, Colton]
Sprint says it's still committed to iDEN
As we mentioned yesterday, Sprint has gone on record saying that it's going to continue to stand behind its legacy iDEN infrastructure, the massive PTT network inherited from its Nextel acquisition and marketed under the Nextel Direct Connect brand. We can understand that there are thousands of companies and millions of individuals that rely on Direct Connect to go about their business -- but by the same token, we're surprised that Sprint isn't instead saying that it intends to aggressively push its upcoming CDMA-based Qchat system over iDEN and make the transition as smooth and inexpensive as possible for its Direct Connect customers. Whatevs; we suppose it's good news that Sprint intends to inject a handful of relatively exciting new hardware into the mix in 2008 -- something Sprint alludes to in its press release, along with the promise of several new "press-to-x" features that will allow users to send texts, pictures and the like just as they would a PTT call. Last time we checked that was called SMS and MMS, but what do we know?
Regulators put pressure on Sprint to remedy issues with iDEN network
Although Sprint has coughed up some $1 billion over the past few years in order to nix the interference between 2,200 public safety agencies across the US and its iDEN network, it apparently hasn't done enough. Reportedly, the FCC has warned Sprint that it "could lose access to the signal spectrum used by its Nextel- and Boost Mobile-branded wireless services" if it doesn't remedy the problem by June of 2008. Supposedly, Sprint is "working hard" to settle the issue, but it's not wasting any time asking the US Court of Appeals to get involved. The carrier claims that these shut down threats could force it to halt signups of Nextel-branded customers, and furthermore, around three million public-safety workers would purportedly lose service if the FCC did indeed shut down the Nextel network. 'Course, industry analysts are suggesting that regulators wouldn't really go through with shutting it down, but if nothing else, this should light a fire under Sprint to expedite the process.[Via PhoneScoop]
Nokia and 3 Scandinavia launch 3G Push to Talk trial
3's making big moves in Scandinavia with a little help from the gents at Nokia Siemens Networks and its Push to Talk and Presence solutions. The Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC) trial will start in the Swedish market with, yeap, Nokia PoC handsets. Push to Talk, for those not in the know, lets you use your handset like a walkie-talkie and get in touch with people with the click of a button. Presence services deliver real time updates for your contacts, so if a friend's in a meeting, you'll see his status is away and can choose to get in touch at a later time. Nice to see other places getting in on that joy -- though, judging by the pic attached, they're using it in the same room, rather like a conversation, but more impersonal (wink, wink).
Sprint to preserve Nextel Direct Connect branding for PTT
Though Nextel may be long since assimilated as a company, parts of its branding look to live on thanks to an official announcement from Sprint today. As prior reports suggested, the carrier is reporting that push-to-talk services will continue to carry the treasured "Nextel Direct Connect" branding that has largely represented enterprise PTT service in the US for ages (14 years, to be exact). Furthermore, Nextel Direct Connect will be used "regardless of network platform," indicating that the name will be used even as Sprint works to transition the bulk of its PTT services from iDEN to CDMA. Speaking of CDMA, Sprint is using the same press release to tout a plethora of new Direct Connect devices in the pipe for 2008, spanning the range from "rugged phones that meet the rigors of military specifications to sleek new flip phones" -- and get this, they'll come from "Sprint's leading manufacturers," suggesting that Motorola is going to lose its stranglehold on the service. The more, the merrier, we say!
Motorola ic902 gets official for Sprint Nextel
Motorola's iDEN / CDMA hybrid handsets are starting to get a little fancy, it seems. The new ic902 seems to offer up the best of both worlds for the uncompromising push-to-talk junkie, combining features like Power Vision (read: EV-DO rev. 0), healthy QVGA primary and 160 x 120 external color displays, integrated GPS, microSD memory expansion, Bluetooth, music player (sans external controls, it seems), and a 2 megapixel camera into a 0.87 inch, 4.8 ounce form. Grab it starting today online and starting next month in retail locations for $300 on a two-year agreement or $490 contract-free.[Via Phone Scoop]Update: Seems the media controls are on the phone's side. Silly iDEN, always doing things just a little differently! [Thanks, Dan]
