Telecom Lead U.S: Sprint announced that Sprint Direct Connect push-to-talk (PTT) service has surpassed the 1 million-customer milestone in less than a year.
Sprint launched Sprint Direct Connect in October last year, ushering in the next generation of PTT service from the company that pioneered push-to-talk. The service debuted packed with broadband data capabilities, familiar PTT features, rugged and reliable handsets, and a broadening push-to-talk coverage map.
The new PTT platform, created by Qualcomm, has played a significant role in drawing customers from iDEN to broadband CDMA.
Sprint enhances Sprint Direct Connect service
Recently Sprint expanded its Sprint Direct Connect push-to-talk service with the addition of roaming and Sprint 1xRTT coverage areas. With these new coverage areas, the Nextel National Network now offers three times more push-to-talk coverage to its customers.
As a part of Sprint’s Network Vision, Sprint Direct Connect supports broadband capabilities, the latest business productivity applications, social media and multimedia, and future push-to-X capabilities on Sprint’s broadband CDMA network.
“The Qualcomm platform represents a carrier-grade, IP-based solution for Sprint that delivers the advanced push-to-talk experiences customers are demanding today and sets a solid foundation for Sprint Direct Connect to support even more advanced communications in the future,” said Michael Wallace, senior vice president and general manager of Qualcomm Internet Services.
Sprint Direct Connect now delivers triple the square miles of coverage compared to the company’s legacy Nextel National Network; instant call set-up time on domestic PTT calls; international coverage to Latin American countries that most frequently use PTT service; and, a range of rugged, military-spec handsets including the Motorola ADMIRAL smartphone
“One million customers in less than a year is an important achievement and reflects well on the permanence of push-to-talk as a communications solution,” said Paget Alves, Sprint’s chief sales officer. “Sprint Direct Connect has clearly met the increasing demand for faster data speeds and better and broader coverage on push-to-talk devices.”
Earlier this year, Sprint announced it will decommission its iDEN network as early as June 30, 2013 as part of Network Vision plans. Network Vision is expected to add net economic value for Sprint from reduced roaming costs, cell-site reduction, backhaul efficiencies, more efficient use of capital, and energy cost savings.
The company has already discontinued selling iDEN devices in most channels; Sprint will continue to support business customers with iDEN devices as needed during their transition to Sprint Direct Connect service.
