Verizon Wireless Launches National Push to Talk Service

[GaminFreak2002]

08/14/2003: Verizon Wireless, the nation?s largest wireless service provider, today announced the nationwide availability of Verizon Wireless Push to Talk service on Monday, August 18, 2003. Push to Talk from Verizon Wireless will allow customers to connect directly, in seconds, with other Verizon Wireless Push to Talk users by simply pressing a button on their push to talk capable handset. The new walkie-talkie feature provides customers with a fast connection to the people they communicate with most and the reliability of Verizon Wireless? nationwide wireless network.

To Read The Whole Article Go Here

 

[anxi80]

and the price is a big ole ouch. $20 extra for the service.

by the way, cant wait for the samsung ev-do* phone. they are testing it in san diego. hopefully they'll make it available here as a test market soon also. i can wish.

edit: fixed spelling

 

[fs5]

ed-vo? link?

 

[anxi80]

link to eBay auction for it

samsungs press release for korea release

article about phone being released in korea

edit: and the phone is currently being tested in the states. san diego is one location, and there's one more, i forget where though. its expected to hit nationwide in 8-16 months.

 

Sounds cool - their plans are comparable to Nextel's prices.

 

[fs5]

does it really have 2.4Mbps? What's sprint's vision service run? What it runs it feels dog slow.
and why not an OLED screen?

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: fivespeed5
does it really have 2.4Mbps? What's sprint's vision service run? What it runs it feels dog slow.
and why not an OLED screen?

yes. got me there. im assuming the OLED screen was not implemented because the phone has already been created long ago (released in korea) and so they are pretty much just changing the language and the channels.

edit: sorry if i cant be of much more help. i just heard about this phone yesterday and still researching it. it looks neat though and teh features are amazing.

 

[pulse8]

I believe the Sprint Vision network runs at 144kbps.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: pulse8
I believe the Sprint Vision network runs at 144kbps.

Right. Sprint is skipping EV-DO and planning on the next generation of it. Apparently ev-do only applies to data services. There is no added voice capacity with it (CDMA technology). Sprint will be implementing EV-DV, which is basically 4G technology vs. EV-DO being the best 3G technology will have to offer.

Commercial availability isn't expected until ~2006 (best guess).

 

[GaminFreak2002]

I bet people will be switchin from nextel to verizon

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: GaminFreak2002
I bet people will be switchin from nextel to verizon

I don't. Nextel is a tried and true technology. Verizon's plans are currently about 10-20 dollars more expensive then the Nextel counterpart. I just swtiched from Verizon to Nextel, and am not looking back right now. My father has used Nextel's since the day they came out for his business. They have never failed.

 

[GeekDrew]

My company and I will be sticking with Nextel. I even use their phones and plans for my personal cell phone.

 

[KokomoGST]

Originally posted by: GaminFreak2002
I bet people will be switchin from nextel to verizon

Considering Nextel is changing their pricing for their DirectConnect service so that unlimited nationwide PTT will be pretty much the same cost as Verizon's... yeah.

Most likely the first phone for VZW DC will be the Motorola V60p. And that $20 is for unlimited nationwide DC. According to an accounts manager I spoke with at Nextel, they won't be offering unlimited nationwide DC for free anymore. Even people on existing plans will be moved to the new pricing.

BTW, Verizon's been testing their DC towers for over 4 months now at least... methinks they were putting up the infrastructure at the same time they were suing the pants of Nextel.

 

[Ryan]

Hasn't Nextel had this for a few months. ?!!?

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
Hasn't Nextel had this for a few months. ?!!?

ROFL, more like years.

 

[Yossarian]

I still don't understand how this is such a great benefit. Take 2 seconds to speed dial and you can both talk at once.

 

[Wheezer]

According to the rep I talked to, she told me that one of the benifits is that if you are in an area that cannot recieve a cellular signal that the PTT feature is on a different signal so it *may* still work.

I have been following this for some time and just found out today it will go nationwide on Monday.

I also came across this interesting bit of news, granted it is a few months old, but I had not heard anything about it:

Verizon sues Nextel

 

[wicktron]

My only problem with Verizon's PTT service is that supposedly there is a slight delay in communications (maybe 2-3 seconds). Nextel's PTT variant, on the other hand, is damn near instantaneous.

It will take a while before Verizon catches up to Nextel's years of expertise in the field of PTT. ATT, Spring, and Cingular will soon follow with their own PTT variants.

All these service providers are just jealous cuz they know Nextel's DC is a damn cool feature.

 

[dartworth]

A cool feature...? I guess if your into that kindda thing. To bad Nextel's cell service is sux

 

[wicktron]

Originally posted by: jfano
A cool feature...? I guess if your into that kindda thing. To bad Nextel's cell service is sux

You are mistaken. I live in California, and it is probably one of the best services. Verizon and Nextel's service in California are the best. Cingular, AT&T (GSM), T-Mobile, all pretty much stink in California. I frequent the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles area and Nextel has given me the most consistent service, hands down.

 

[Broohaha]

Originally posted by: anxi80
link to eBay auction for it samsungs press release for korea release article about phone being released in korea edit: and the phone is currently being tested in the states. san diego is one location, and there's one more, i forget where though. its expected to hit nationwide in 8-16 months.

<sploooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooge>

 

[rh71]

Must the PTT feature be speakerphone only ? It's quite annoying & embarrassing to be having conversations like that in my opinion.

I've been looking for any reason to switch from Sprint to Verizon, but I ain't paying an extra $240/yr. just to get connected quicker.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: KraziKid

Originally posted by: GaminFreak2002
I bet people will be switchin from nextel to verizon

I don't. Nextel is a tried and true technology. Verizon's plans are currently about 10-20 dollars more expensive then the Nextel counterpart. I just swtiched from Verizon to Nextel, and am not looking back right now. My father has used Nextel's since the day they came out for his business. They have never failed.

Nextel is complete and utter trash.

Alot of my friends have had similar experiences with them.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: wicktron
My only problem with Verizon's PTT service is that supposedly there is a slight delay in communications (maybe 2-3 seconds). Nextel's PTT variant, on the other hand, is damn near instantaneous.

It will take a while before Verizon catches up to Nextel's years of expertise in the field of PTT. ATT, Spring, and Cingular will soon follow with their own PTT variants.

All these service providers are just jealous cuz they know Nextel's DC is a damn cool feature.

Maybe it's just me, but I think it's pretty gay to be talking like that... What purpose does it serve? For people who are too lazy to dial on the phone(btw they have 1 touch speed dial for that)? Someone please enlighten me (and what are the odds that two people will be in the same area who can't get a cell signal and will have to use this?). I would never pay extra for that crap, just get a handsfree if you're too lazy to hold the phone. It's alot cheaper than an extra $20/mo...

 

[wicktron]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon

Originally posted by: wicktron
My only problem with Verizon's PTT service is that supposedly there is a slight delay in communications (maybe 2-3 seconds). Nextel's PTT variant, on the other hand, is damn near instantaneous.

It will take a while before Verizon catches up to Nextel's years of expertise in the field of PTT. ATT, Spring, and Cingular will soon follow with their own PTT variants.

All these service providers are just jealous cuz they know Nextel's DC is a damn cool feature.

Maybe it's just me, but I think it's pretty gay to be talking like that... What purpose does it serve? For people who are too lazy to dial on the phone(btw they have 1 touch speed dial for that)? Someone please enlighten me (and what are the odds that two people will be in the same area who can't get a cell signal and will have to use this?). I would never pay extra for that crap, just get a handsfree if you're too lazy to hold the phone. It's alot cheaper than an extra $20/mo...

One thing PTT does is turn an otherwise inefficient conversation with wasted silence and blabber to an efficient usage of airtime. Just like using a walkie-talkie, only information necessary is spoken. And not everybody wants to wear a hands free set, I personally thing that it looks "gay" (in your terms). People with hands free sets look like they are talking to themselves.

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: KraziKid

Originally posted by: GaminFreak2002
I bet people will be switchin from nextel to verizon

I don't. Nextel is a tried and true technology. Verizon's plans are currently about 10-20 dollars more expensive then the Nextel counterpart. I just swtiched from Verizon to Nextel, and am not looking back right now. My father has used Nextel's since the day they came out for his business. They have never failed.

Nextel is complete and utter trash.

Alot of my friends have had similar experiences with them.

Everybody out here in California that I know love Nextel. I love Nextel as well, coverage is great. Voice quality is crystal clear. I've been through all of the major providers and Nextel is my favorite, with Verizon coming second.