the feauture of push-and-talk [Archive] - Mobile-Review.com Forums

kristof.vanriet

19-03-2004, 02:09

first of all, not really the right place for this thread...
but just read this article i've found on the net:

"Push-to-Talk, how wonderful...?

Push-to-Talk. People have been talking about it more and more in the last few weeks. However, aside from those in the business, few know exactly what it deals with. It is a bit more intuitive than the acronyms we have got used to (starting with GSM and WAP a few years ago, moving on to GPRS and UMTS, or WCDMA if you prefer, maybe with a lot of GPS and Wi-Fi, and so on...). PTT indicates a service that allows you to ?transform? the cellular that we know today into a real "walkie-talkie", by simply pressing a button.

Is this another application only for technophiles? Do you think that mobile phones should ?call and that?s all?, maybe with the possibility of sending and receiving a few SMS messages? Or are you convinced that all of these functions, like SMS once upon a time, should belong exclusively to the world of the young, who are quick and patient enough to learn to use them? In reality, PTT is a function that takes it form from the good old walkie-talkie, used by the police force, firemen, truckers, taxi drivers all over the world. Therefore, it is simple and intuitive, because it recalls a product that we already know. And soon it will be available for everyone.

In fact, the Push-to-Talk function can be used for quickly contacting a person or a group of people by simply pushing a button on the telephone. Today, PTT service on cellular networks (PoC - Push-to-Talk over Cellular) is not yet available. Or better yet, they are only available for users of iDEN and CDMA networks, which already count over 12 million users. But the main mobile phone manufacturers assure us that in 2004 this technology will spread like an oil stain also in the world of GSM/GPRS, starting with the launch of the first compatible terminals. And if you think that a few months ago three giants like Nokia, Siemens and Ericsson launch an initiative to define the specifics for creating an open standard for PTT over Cellular applications on GSM/EDGE networks, the forecast is really bright.

How it is, how it will be...

But how will PoC work for us? The solution that will soon be adopted in Europe and in most of the world will be Voice over IP (VoIP) semiduplex, which uses existing GPRS and EDGE data networks included in the current GSM system. This method, the manufacturers ensure us, supplies average performance that is at least equal to that of dedicated Push-to-Talk cellular networks. In any case, more than acceptable quality for a solution that (hopefully, but it will all depend on the network operators), will be economical for the final user. Certainly it will be less expensive than a long traditional telephone call.

PoC is particularly promising for the current market. According to studies carried out, consumers are interested in walkie-talkie functions on mobile phone because they make it possible to use them with a person or an entire group of people by pressing a button. And just like a walkie-talkie, voice messages are automatically received. Thanks to the GPRS ?always on" function and the speakerphone function of today?s mobile phones, no effort is particularly required on the part of the recipient. This means a simple application, but at the same time attractive and flexible, that offers the possibility to communicate spontaneously and intuitively, especially with groups of friends and acquaintances.

PoC is also interesting for operators, because it allows them to increase the profits of their current investment. In fact, because PoC is implemented on the existing networks, it does not require ulterior installation and investment. The service can easily be expanded to other networks that use the IP protocol. Therefore, it can also be used on UMTS or Wi-Fi networks. This also contributes to the optimism of operators. This is the case for Orange, for example, that are said to be very optimistic about the success of the PTT service, and predicts collecting something like a million users in twelve months from the launch of the service, which should happen by summer. However, it is not clear yet how this service will be charged: you could think about a monthly fee, payable whether you use the service or not (fixed fee), or like SMS and MMS messages, fees for single messages. One thing is certain: price will determine the success (or failure) of Push-to-Talk. Operators beware! "

Adem Sehovic, the GSMBOX.co.uk