VERIZON WIRELESS PTT - Discuss in this thread only

[Jonbo298]

VZW never really promoted it much, let alone worked with it. I think it was just kind of slapped together so that VZW had something PTT related, just to please the groups that will use it but don't want to switch to Nextel/Sprint

[radiodeeej]

VZW never really promoted it much, let alone worked with it. I think it was just kind of slapped together so that VZW had something PTT related, just to please the groups that will use it but don't want to switch to Nextel/Sprint

bingo...

Advertisement is key, and without it, you will sell nothing...hence the disinterest in PTT fro VZW...

[ilvla2]

It isn't popular on VZW for the same reason it isn't popular on any other carrier except for Nextel. With Nextel, PTT is on every phone and it's been that way forever; it's their core feature and largely the reason people choose Nextel. With other carriers, PTT is unique feature that's available on certain phones. Not to mention, it is not as good (on other carriers) as it is on Nextel.

What about in areas like mine where Nextel doesn't have service? We do have PTT from Verizon and US Cellular though, surely with no Nextel around they must be doing okay, or not? A lot of areas in NorCal have no Nextel, but do have it with US Cellular or Verizon.

A lot of the companies up here (like Railroads, Truck Companies, Lumber Haulers, Vineyards, Wineries, etc.) already have their own 2-way radio networks set up, so maybe they don't see any need for PTT.

[CSOKI Mike]

it is because PTT is a niche market, and VZW has always been loath to target niche markets.

Also, to all but a few consumers (again, niche market) PTT is a useless feature when viewed in light of unlimited in-network calling. An extra $20 a month to remove one keystroke and hold your phone like a walkie-talkie isn't a great investment.

[hwertz]

Look for developments on this in the future.. from VZW? I don't know. But I've read that Qualcomm has worked on improved PTT, using QOS (quality of service) and other new features in EVDO Rev A, to allow for reasonably fast PTT. I think they're going to supply it to Sprint first, to help with the whole Nextel<->Sprint integration. (Hopefully, it'd fall back to provide some kind of PTT in the 1X-only areas.. slow would be better than none.)

As others have said, the reason PTT didn't kick on:
People who want it already have Nextel.
Lack of phones (most phones are not PTT compatible)
Slow service (haven't seen it in action, but apparently the PTT had a high enough delay to not seem real interactive like Nextel's.)

[chakos151]

Qualcomm's new PTT system is called QChat and is indeed being offered by Sprint.

[jboidc]

Qualcomm's new PTT system is called QChat and is indeed being offered by Sprint.

Well, not currently being offered, but will be when the entire CDMA network is overlayed with Rev. A.

[ALCingularUser]

I think that there are several reasons that PTT hasn't been a success on any carriers but Nextel and Southern LINC. There's the technical issues for sure, but there are also other issues. First, Nextel and Southern LINC's systems are closed, even to each other (they both use iDEN, so they could interoperate if they wanted to), so, if all your contacts are on one carrier, you will lose access to them if you switch. For a single company that uses the system internally, that isn't an issue, but...

iDEN PTT phones are, by and large, built like tanks, whereas other cell phones aren't. I could have used the old i550plus I carried as a weapon if I had needed to, and the phone would have come through it more or less unharmed. With the typical cell phone, a drop off a desk would shatter it. I dropped the i550plus off my desk, and the thing bounced, but it was fine. And many of the people who need PTT are working in environments where phones can get banged up. As an employer, you don't want to have to buy someone a new phone every week.

Finally, PTT on VZW, AT&T, Sprint, and all the rest is still closed. A VZW user can only chat with another VZW user, a Sprint user can chat with only Sprint users, etc. That's no better than the iDEN carriers.

So, to sum it up, the cell companies are offering PTT on top of already expensive voice plans, the systems they use are just as closed off as the iDEN carriers, and the phones they offer are toys in comparison to the iDEN phones. Believe me, I'm no iDEN fanboy (I personally hate its sound quality), but the real question isn't asking why other carriers' PTT failed. No, the real question is how they ever expected to succeed by implementing it in the ways they have.

[ilvla2]

:
People who want it already have Nextel.
.)

That's not true in areas like mine, where Nextel has no service. People want it, but the only games in town here for it are US Cellular and Verizon.

[MooseBerry]

I read a statement from a VZW exec who said that when Rev A is fully in place they were going to roll out a new and improved PTT. Cingy currently offers it on a bunch of their phones and all of their newer BlackBerrys (I have it on my Curve) and it works pretty good. There's a short delay while it initially connects (2-3 secs) and then it's instant after that.

I hope VZW does get this working, I would use it.

[fusiclover]

So, to sum it up, the cell companies are offering PTT on top of already expensive voice plans, the systems they use are just as closed off as the iDEN carriers, and the phones they offer are toys in comparison to the iDEN phones. Believe me, I'm no iDEN fanboy (I personally hate its sound quality), but the real question isn't asking why other carriers' PTT failed. No, the real question is how they ever expected to succeed by implementing it in the ways they have.

Excellant post. BTW... the i580, along with having all the bells and whistles, is water resistant to boot... It was tested by someone running over it with a car, and all that happened was the external glass cracked, but not the flip, not the screen.

Gotta love a real rugged IDEN phone!

[mongo39828]

We have been using VZW PTT for daily business use for over 2 years and it has been a great experience. I would say that it is 99+% reliable and the short delay time is negligible and becomes second nature. I have not used any competitors' PTT products so I don't have anything to compare it with. We chose VZW PTT mostly due to our prior experience with VZW. We were solicited by Nextel when they started service in our area but declined because we felt they had not made a solid commitment to improving coverage in the area. Two years later they have made NO improvements in the area and coverage remains dismal. VZW has added towers in our county and is the only carrier to have a tower in our town.

We are using the Kyocera KX-444 handsets and they work well although I could suggest some improvements. I am disapointed that VZW only offers 2 choices for PTT phones while the iDen world is grossly over-supplied. I worry that VZW is not commited to keeping PTT as a feature because they don't promote it at all. This seems to be the norm for VZW. I didn't know they had VOIP phone services until they had a problem with Vonage. Obviously there are more people who need "Smart Phones" that work in Paris than there are people who need a good PTT service to run their small business in rural America. I guess we just aren't glamorous enough. VZW's lack of commitment and promotion of PTT keeps manufacturers from considering new products. I don't understand how a company can make an investment like this and then refuse to even try to make it successful.

We will keep on going with our KX-444's and hope something newer and better comes along. Unless Cingular or Nextel makes a serious commitment to improve service in our area we will stay with VZW.

[ilvla2]

It sounds like your market is like ours, though we don't have any Nextel coverage and they have made no plans to ever get service here. We do have PTT from both Verizon and US Cellular, and it's been pretty popular.

[mbaverizon]

i had the PTT for awhile and really it was good, what i didnt like was the crappy phones they had!! the verizon PTT WAS VERY CONSISANT! when you were connected it sayed connected , unlike nextel!! just because it was a second slower, doesnt mean it wasnt any good, it was the phone selection!! if they would bring out newer up to date phone with PTT i would be all over it!!

[FlugPoP]

i had the PTT for awhile and really it was good, what i didnt like was the crappy phones they had!! the verizon PTT WAS VERY CONSISANT! when you were connected it sayed connected , unlike nextel!! just because it was a second slower, doesnt mean it wasnt any good, it was the phone selection!! if they would bring out newer up to date phone with PTT i would be all over it!!

It WAS bad at first. Then they did some upgrades that made it solid. I tested it with a group of people from this forum. I recently thought about it for a co-worker and I but like mbaverizon said the phone selection sucks! They still had the same phones and they don't even have a phone with Bluetooth....