Motorola i850 All About The PTT Function

The Motorola i850 mobile phone takes the push to talk technology to a whole new level.  The phone supports both Nextel Direct Connect and Group Connect Services. These two highly distinguished services are part of Nextel’s unique Integrated Digital Enhanced Network technology.

Developed by Motorola, the Integrated Digital Enhanced Network combines trunked radio and cellular technology allowing fast push to talk communications, even among groups.

Trunked radio is a push to talk communications system that assigns channels automatically.  Users are assigned to a common trunk channel each time they need to communicate with each other using this push to talk service while groups get their own channels.  This technology is commonly seen with the two way radios used by fire and police departments.

Nextel provides services that emulate this trunked two-way radio system using your mobile phones.  To communicate with another Nextel user, you just select another Nextel phone on your Motorola i850 and push a button and your voice is automatically heard on the other end.  This eliminates having to dial a number and waiting for numerous rings before the person you’re calling finally picks up. 

Nextel’s Group Connect Service, meanwhile, allows you to talk to a group of people all at the same time.  In group conferences like this, each person takes their turn speaking by pushing the talk button on their mobile phone.  This service allows you to communicate with 20 people nationwide at the same time.  And with Nextel’s Unlimited International Walkie Talkie service you can talk to people in Canada, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Mexico.

This push to talk technology is also known as “walkie talkie mode” because it works similarly to walkie talkie radio sets.  The key difference is that you are assigned your own private channel so other people can’t eavesdrop on your conversations. Furthermore, the range is significantly extended because of the use of a cellular network.

Apart from the Direct Connect and Group Connect Services, Nextel users also enjoy the Direct Send service.  Using this service you can instantly send the pictures you’ve taken with your Motorola i850’s built in camera to your friends while you’re talking!

There are a whole lot of other mobile phones that are Nextel enabled. However, with the number of Motorola i850 units that have already been sold, it seems that this model is highly preferred. This is not surprising, though, because having Nextel’s PTT function contained in a sleek and classy clamshell is the main reason why it is the most popular.