02-16-2003, 12:44 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Sprint, Verizon Race on "Push To Talk"
Have you ever been annoyed by the uncourteous Nextel user (or a Telus Mike user in Canada) using their walkie-talkie feature in conspicuous environments? Well, the situation might get worse, not better.
"Verizon Wireless plans to offer a "push to talk" service for cell phones in the next few months, Verizon Chief Executive Officer Dennis Strigl said this week. Nextel Communications is, so far, the only U.S. carrier to offer the service, which lets subscribers reach others by pushing a button on the side of the phone, rather than dialing a telephone number."
I think the capability is great; it's just that people don't know the right time and place to use it discreetly. Let's hope Verizon and Sprint make it easier to radio without annoying everyone else on the train.
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02-16-2003, 12:52 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 145
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yes Janak. The problem with Nextel phones currently though, is that they are VERY loud when used on open walkie talkie form. You *can* silence them so they only work like a phone, but the problem is that EVEN ON THE INITAL RADIOING, it is phone-like. Stupid...eh? SO...you *can* set the radio on, get an initial message then "phone-like" it, but most people are just too lazy to do this or don't know how. Maybe then could make your phone vibrate or even ring, and when you open it the radio becomes live? That might help a LOT...
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02-16-2003, 01:17 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 12
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I have had a Nextel for over five years. Even the original models which were larger than a brick had a button to switch the direct connect onto the earpiece. Our company has a policy that you beep the person first and wait for a response before talking. This solves the problem of annoying everyone on the train or in the store. Just like cell phones ringing in the theater because the user doesn't know how to switch it to vibrate or doesn't bother. Can't blaim the manufacturer for the users ignorance.
It will be good to have some competition in pricing, Dell sure helped Pocket PC pricing. Nextel has some of the worst customer service (though it has gotten better) and lots of dead zones.
Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now? 
I can't wait!
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02-16-2003, 02:23 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 593
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God forbid that someone doesn't know how to change the Queue sound on there phone. Personally I don't queue, I will press the PTT button so it either chips once or vibrates on the other side. On the other hand, I think the first majority of people who used these were warehouse or construction workers who weren't near an office phone. It would be nice if its compatible with Nextel.
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02-16-2003, 02:29 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 633
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Related Topic - [rant]
Why on earth can people who use mobiles never seem able to turn the ring volume down? I am SO tired of peoples' phones ringing at the "I'm Deaf and want to announce it to the world" volume setting - There's this continual desire to have the latest funkiest mobile and then the owners never bother learning how to turn it down! Don't get me wrong; I appreciate that at 90mph on a motorway you need to hear it ring [perhaps - let us pray an earpiece is in use], but in the office? Mcdonalds? The street??
I'm sooo tempted to splash the cash for one of the disrupters that are available - too expensive though unfortunately...[/rant]
Seems the 'push to talk' is about to add to my woes, huh? :roll:
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02-16-2003, 02:31 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by DrtyBlvd
Why on earth can people who use mobiles never seem able to turn the ring volume down?
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Well, note my post about the $50 fine to hit NYC venues... BTW, I agree with you. I keep my cell on vibrate 100% of the time.
BTW, re the disruptor: the biggest problem is that it's illegal, at least in the US.
--janak
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02-16-2003, 04:17 AM
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Swami
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,396
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Re: Sprint, Verizon Race on "Push To Talk"
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
Have you ever been annoyed by the uncourteous Nextel user (or a Telus Mike user in Canada) using their walkie-talkie feature in conspicuous environments? Well, the situation might get worse, not better.
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I've never used a Nextel, so I didn't get your objection at first. I wondered how this was worse than anybody just using their cell phone in public.
However, if I read between the lines, what you're saying is that people can use these like speakerphones so you don't need to have your ear next to the earpiece, right? If so, that doesn't sound synonymous with "push-to-talk". Push-to-talk just implies half-duplex communications.
Am I missing something?
Steve
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02-16-2003, 04:31 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 593
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Well, to first understand the phones, Nextel phones have the best speaker phone, bar none. During PTT convo's, the conversation occurs through the speaker typically, and with their speakers, you can hear it far away.
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02-16-2003, 05:01 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 85
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I don't get it. Some people just don't seem to understand that the speaker volume on the 2-way can be turned down. It doesn't suddenly jump to obscene levels when your not looking. I find it to be very frustrating that SO MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO OPERATE THIER #$#$@ing PHONE!!! I have nextel now and I have had great reliablility and service from them, but because of thier lack of bluetooth I plan to switch in the near future. I have a friend though who is planning to design a bluetooth module for the I8x I9x and I5x series phones that is similar in appearance to the headset piece available for the I1000's. I understand how people blaring the direct connect at max volume in some public places can get annoying but if I'm in the parking lot or out for a run I could care less how loud other people percive my speaker volume to be. However if I were say in a library then I would set the phoen to vibrate w/ the speaker off and use the 2-way in the regular cell volume mode. Competition for Nextel PLEASE PLEASE come quickly....
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02-16-2003, 05:02 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 57
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We have been trying the Mike (Nextel) phones at our office for the past few months. They are nice phones, but cell coverage is not nearly as good as the normal PCS phones. I even took mine to the U.S. and coverage was horrible. The speaker phone portion works really well, though and the volume and ring tones can be set up by the user. There is no reason to have volume settings so loud that it disturbs everyone in a half block radius.
A PCS speakerphone system would be great in our neck of the woods, as we would have better coverage than the 'Mike' phone and keep all the benefits of PCS. BTW, a speaker phone works wonders when you are commissioning equipment, etc. with someone a hundred miles away, both hands are free to handle any problems.
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