Pushtotalk -- Engadget Mobile

pushtotalk posts

Verizon Wireless launches CDM8975, rugged push-to-talk on the cheap

by Sean Cooper posted Feb 23rd 2009 @ 10:39AM

It's most definitely a hit and miss affair in the push-to-talk realm, and while the (Pantech) CDM8975 doesn't deliver the sexy, it does seem to deliver the lower-end goods. This flip is priced at $99 on a two-year stint and brings a 1.3 megapixel camera, dedicated push-to-talk and speakerphone buttons, memory expandability up to 8GB, Bluetooth, and even stereo speakers. There is a $50 rebate on a 2-year plan, but Verizon seems to have decided that instead of cash, that rebate will come in the form of a debit card and not cash. Perhaps you can pay for the $5 unlimited push-to-talk services, or a case, or to courrier your letter of complaint about getting a debit card rebate and not cash? Available online now and in stores as of March 9th.

Update: As Dustin pointed out, the rebate card can be used anywhere debit cards are accepted.

Sprint launches push-to-talk BlackBerry Curve 8350i

by Darren Murph posted Dec 15th 2008 @ 9:45AM

Verizon may have been bangin' on Sprint's iDEN network, but that's not stopping the yellow-faced carrier from introducing the "first ever" (wait, really?) push-to-talk BlackBerry on those very waves. Sprint is hailing the Curve 8350i as the "most advanced push-to-talk BlackBerry smartphone ever," and given the options in the past, it's hard to disagree. Thankfully, there's also integrated WiFi / GPS as well as support for Group Connect, international direct connect and Talkgroup; you'll also spot a 2-megapixel camera, multimedia player, speakerphone, video recorder, a microSDHC card slot, Bluetooth 2.0, a stereo headset jack and a removable 1,400mAh battery. It's available now in a rather stocky 4.4- x 2.4- x 0.7-inch frame for as low as $149.99 (after all applicable rebates) on a two-year plan.

Gallery: Sprint launches BlackBerry Curve 8350i: first push-to-talk BlackBerry

BlackBerry 8350i hitting Sprint on December 1?

by Chris Ziegler posted Nov 17th 2008 @ 10:51AM

We've had a hard time nailing down a date for RIM's latest (last?) iDEN-powered BlackBerry, the 8350i, outside a general belief that we'd see it before the year was out. For push-to-talkers sick and tired of staring at the truly prehistoric 7100i in Sprint's current lineup, we're sure that the new release couldn't come soon enough -- and while December 1 might not qualify as "soon enough" for some of y'all, it could be worse. The latest intel we're getting suggests that the Curve-alike will be ready to order as we enter the final month of 2008, so get your plastic ready (or, more realistically, let your company's purchasing department know what's up).

[Thanks, Brian]

Sprint won't let Nextel iDEN network chirp its last chirp, plans rejuvenation effort

by Darren Murph posted Oct 31st 2008 @ 8:25AM

We've seen some pretty wild on-again / off-again relationships in the scandalous world of gadget affairs, but this one has been swinging from one extreme to the other at breakneck pace. Let's recap: after proclaiming that it was absolutely committed to iDEN in February of 2008, rumors then started flying that Sprint was looking to offload the whole thing and move on with life. A month later, the carrier's CEO practically confirmed that an iDEN network sale was still an option. Now, the seemingly bipolar company has issued a press release reaffirming its adoration for the chirping-est network this side of Oz, stating that "after careful review of the iDEN business, Sprint intends to retain and rejuvenate this important asset." Which could be PR speak for "nobody wanted this thing, so what other option did we really have?" Regardless of the truth, it seems the push-to-talk network that just won't die will live to see another day, but as history has shown, all that could change in a split second (or at Sprint Speed, whichever you prefer).

[Via phonescoop]

Sprint's steampunk Motorola i776 now in the mix for push-to-talkin' fun

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 20th 2008 @ 4:20PM

Motorola's iDEN-powered i776 flip is now available through Sprint's website, capping off a round of high-visibility launches with a black sheep in every sense of the word. Well, every sense except one -- the i776 is actually a bizarre combo of brushed metal and brown, an acquired taste to say the least (not unlike the network on which the i776 runs). There's nothing but a VGA cam here, but it packs GPS, Bluetooth, speakerphone, and that retro-fabulous stub antenna that'll make all your friends wonder why they've been unceremoniously obsoleted on virtually every other phone sold today. Get it now -- if you dare -- for $79.99 on contract.

AT&T drops push-to-talk pricing to $5, Sprint now odd man out

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 17th 2008 @ 5:04AM

In conjunction with the release of the rugged Rugby from Samsung, AT&T's celebrating its good fortunes by dropping pricing of its push-to-talk option from $10 to $5 (a 50 percent cut, for the mathematically challenged). That puts its rate in line with Verizon's, while Sprint stays the lone ranger up in the clouds at $10 a month. So, you know, if your conundrum comes down to Rugby versus Boulder -- just make sure monthly PTT pricing doesn't come into play in your decision.

Update: Sprint points out to us that most of their plans actually include Direct Connect bundled in with the pricing. The simply-named "Talk" plans do not, and a $10 bump beyond those bring you to the "Talk/Message/Direct Connect" plans which, as their names imply, include both unlimited messaging and PTT.

Motorola releases push-to-talk over EV-DO Rev. A solution

by Darren Murph posted Aug 25th 2008 @ 9:48PM

Tired of abysmal sound quality when yapping via PTT? Are your chirps not leading to responses in a timely fashion? Never fear, as Motorola is all over it. For better or worse (though probably better), Moto has released its next-generation push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) solution, which is optimized for CDMA 1x networks with EV-DO Rev. A data capability. According to the official verbiage, the new solution leverages the zippy protocol to provide "low call set-up time latency and improved quality of service (QoS)." Rev. A chirping -- who woulda thunk it?

Motorola i365 is rugged, unapologetically ugly

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 11th 2008 @ 6:46PM

Some phones just don't have to be cute; not even remotely so. They're too busy getting slung with mud, drenched with water, and baked in the sun to really put a priority on good looks -- and if any class of handsets can really get away with that sort of philosophy, it'd have to be Motorola's iDEN workhorses. The lineup has historically been a favorite of construction crews whose phones have a tendency to take a constant beating, and this should be another hot seller in that vein (for as long as iDEN lasts, anyway): meet the i365, a push-to-talk candybar without a single pretty bone in its entire body. It manages to pack both Bluetooth and GPS, so it's not a total slouch in the feature department -- but rest assured, it dispenses of luxuries like a camera, an intenna, or an expansive display. No word on when it'll launch or where it'll be available, but odds are good you'll never hear about it again unless your boss sets one on your desk.

[Via Phone Scoop]

Casio's G'zOne Boulder launches today on Verizon

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 28th 2008 @ 11:54AM

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: Casio's G'zOne Boulder launches today on Verizon

Verizon launches Motorola Adventure V750 with Rev. A push-to-talk support

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 21st 2008 @ 1:40PM

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

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 14th 2008 @ 11:52PM

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

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 10th 2008 @ 12:59PM

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

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 23rd 2008 @ 10:40AM

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]

Continue reading Verizon's new PTT: presence support, more contacts

Motorola's V750 for Verizon flexes its mil-spec muscle

by Chris Ziegler posted May 30th 2008 @ 12:19AM

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

by Chris Ziegler posted May 14th 2008 @ 3:32PM

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]