http://www.cingular.com/pushtotalk

Ok ... so does anybody have any idea if the 8700c could be upgraded via software to support PTT?


Hector
Austin, TX.

Yes it can, via software update. The button on the side of the 8700 would be able to be "user programmable" (under options -> Screen/Keyboard) to use the feature. I do not know when this software will be released. Anyone else have an idea when?

I sincerely doubt that it can be done with software upgrade. Simply put, iDen had to add a whole other casing and atenna to the 7105 model in order to add that feature. If im wrong it would be awesome

Zero1: Your assumption makes sense for the iDen version of the PTT service, which is RF based (commonly known as a walki-talkie) which is basically an 800mhz trunked radio system (the version that ‘Nextel’ uses). However, I imagine (wild guess – honestly have no clue) that Cingular has deployed the TCP/IP version of this, which encodes your voice and sends it over the network to the recipient. This makes sense considering their current investment in the EDGE network. Either way - should be interesting to see how this develops.

that makes sense.

if thats true wouldnt it be a delay

i looked @ the demo and it looks nice...dont know how the plans will be... down side is they only offer 1 phone

my conversation with RIM rep at the launch did indicate that an OTA software update was in the works for the PTT module. . . however, Cingular may not have it available on the 8700 for awhile.

I've had the opportunity to play around with an LG PTT phone and in my opinion, the PTT service does not compare to Nextel's direct-connect at this time, numerous bugs and deficiencies need to be worked out. . .

i figured that...well i will be keeping my nextel 860 and tmo 7290 for now

Here's some PTT info:
Cingular will most likely be offering two phones with ptt initially, the LG that cris has mentioned as well as the Samsung (not that far away),

Cingular's PTT can't compare to nextel's DC with initalialization of a two-way (cingular's is about 7seconds vs Nextel's ~2 seconds) but once initalized the two-way communication is imediate just like nextel's.

With Cingular's PTT you can convert a PTT conversation directly into a voice call, where as nextel you'd have to stop the DC, and look for the number and dial; it'll go straight into the voice call.

Another plus about cingular's PTT is the ability for group PTT's with any other PTT customer. Nextel you had to actually be part of the "group"

With nextel to DC with someone you had to get the DC number/pin and store that along with the users number, they eliminated the need for that with cingular, you just need the user's cell phone number to ptt.

thats cool how its the same as the cell number, very smart

I like the ability to send a message direct to voicemail. Sometimes I know my spouse is in a meeting and I just want to leave her a message on her cell phone, sometimes we all forget to put the phone on silent and I would love to have the option of just leaving her a message on her voicemail for later.

Even though there may be a lag I REALLY hope the 8700 has this feature atleast available for use, leave it up to us to decide if we are going to use it or not.

Also did anyone notice that the button for PTT on the demo phone looks remarkably like the "User Definable" button on the 8700??

SMS doesn't work?

SMS works fine on the 8700, but some people rather leave voicemail

The person on the other end may not be using a BlackBerry, and therefore, easier for them to get a voicemail -- since they may not be familiar with the procedure of reading a SMS.

Although SMS (aka "texting") is now getting more common in North America nowadays, you still have to verify that the other party is familiar with it in North America -- unlike Europe where it is assumed that everyone with a cellphone knows how to read received text messages.

This service is the same as the "Mike" service with Telus Mobility in Canada. I've used the service at one of my jobs and although it works I wasn't impressed. The quality of voice simply isnt there and the lack of privacy was not welcomed. We mainly used this service for our truck drivers which fits in well with that sort of industry.

Just my $0.02

T-mobile's voicemail system gives you the ability to send a voicemail to another t-mobile subscriber which doesn't call the phone at all . . . .

Also what if I cant say what I need to in 100 Characters or less?

SMS is great for short ideas but not for everything.

i think you have upto 160 characters per SMS message . . . over that, your message gets chopped into however many SMS messages it would take to deliver it. . . if you don't want to send lengthy text message, send voicemail message and SMS "CHK UR VM"