[jgb@etree]

Seems like the VZW cust svc reps aren't really aware of PTT yet - I had to read him the accouncement that my account rep sent out this morning before he was able to find the option & provision my account.

PTT's now installed & should be working - waiting for some other folks to get their OS upgraded and PTT installed. Anyone available to do some PTT testing?

[jgb@etree]

FYI: This is the email that my account rep sent out this AM. Reading posts elsewhere, it seems that people are under the impression that PTT will be free. It's not. It costs $5/mo OR if you sign up for a *NEW* voice & data plan that qualifies, they'll toss in PTT for the life of the contract.

FREE Push-to-Talk Service on BlackBerry

Starting March 30, Verizon Wireless will offer a promotion for free Push to Talk service
when customers activate a qualifying voice plan and BlackBerry data plan (for the time of the contract).


Verizon Wireless today announced that Push to Talk will be available for the BlackBerry® Tourxxx8482; 9630 smartphone on March 30. It will be available for both BlackBerry® Internet Service and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server customers using the BlackBerry Tour smartphone.
xxx8220;Extending Push to Talk to the BlackBerry Tour from Verizon Wireless offers business customers a single device for instant communication plus the enterprise-grade security and robust business communications capabilities people have come to expect from a BlackBerry smartphone from Verizon Wireless,xxx8221; said Mark Bartolomeo, vice president xxx8211; global enterprise marketing for Verizon Wireless. xxx8220;These features, coupled with the nationxxx8217;s most reliable wireless network, mean customers have the ultimate in productivity tools.xxx8221;

Customers can add Push to Talk to their service plans by calling or online via My Business Account at www.verizonwireless.com/mybusiness or Verizon Enterprise Center at https://enterprisecenter.verizonbusiness.com. BlackBerry Internet Service customers xxx8211; typically consumers xxx8211; may request the service by calling or visiting the My Verizon site online at www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon.

Once Push to Talk is added to their service plans, customers can download the application from the Application Center or through VZStart on their handsets. The convenience key on the left side of the device will automatically become the Push to Talk button when the application is downloaded.

Verizon Wireless offers a number of Push to Talk phones, including the CASIO® Gxxx8217;zOne Rockxxx8482;, CASIO® Gxxx8217;zOne Brigadexxx8482;, Samsung Convoyxxx8482; and Motorola Barragexxx8482;. Push to Talk provides instant two-way communication for field workers in industries ranging from construction to public safety and offers the following benefits:

- Communicate with one person or a team with the push of a button
- Initiate and participate in group calls with up to 50 participants
- Check colleaguesxxx8217; availability for a Push to Talk call with the Presence feature
- A single device and phone number for both Push to Talk and voice calls
- Online contact management tool for the entire organization

[pshift]

They ned to make it free for those of us already on a 'qualifying data plan' and make it available to all BB's that can support the PTT feature.

[Joe1004]

I am guessing they might at some point.

My employers phones (which I manage) are on a statewide government contract. Sometimes features like this are a little slow to get added to it. We already pay the fee for quite a number of phones, but for the price of a Blackberry plan, PTT should certainly be free.

[akosnitzky]

If I am not charged to speak with other VZW users, then why would I need PTT? What am I missing?

[Joe1004]

Good point. Might as well just call them.

[leifandmindy]

I called and it is free. I am still on an Alltel plan as well. Too bad I get an error when trying to run the app.

[leifandmindy]

i had to install the released version instead of the leaked.

[zerog46]

How did you get it for free.

[akosnitzky]

Just call them. Its good for the life of the contract.

[zerog46]

Sorry, it's available for Plans over 34.99 a month.

[akosnitzky]

Thank you for clarifying

[PressureDrop]

I just spoke with a very nice girl who read me an email that was pretty much the same thing as this:
Push To Talk - Verizon | Forums and Blogs - Verizon Community

Re: Push To Talk
[ Edited ]

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03-30-2010 11:55 AM - last edited on 03-30-2010 11:57 AM

Today Verizon Wireless has introduced PTT(push to talk) on the Blackberry Tour.

Push to Talk on BlackBerry provides instant two-way communication for mobile teams on the go.

Some key benefits include:

*
Instant communication with one person or a whole team with the push of a button.
*
Group calls with up to 50 participants.
*
Online contact management for the entire company.
*
Presence (the ability to see who¿s available for a PTT call).
*
A single device and phone number for both Push to Talk and voice calls.
*
Robust features of the BlackBerry Tour to stay connected and organized.

Customers who activate the Push to Talk feature on the BlackBerry Tour before June 30th, 2010 will receive the Push To Talk service for free!

For New Activations or current BlackBerry Tour users who add the PTT feature:

* Any customer who activates the PTT feature on compatible BlackBerry Smartphones during the promotional period will be eligible to receive the PTT service for free ($0 pricing) for the length of their contract as long as they maintain the voice and data requirement and PTT feature on the account.

*note: not available for Prepaid Customers

Requirements:

* Free promotional offer only applies to qualified voice and data plans and Nationwide Voice & Email Plans with a voice requirement of $34.99 or higher.
o Exception: Feature can be added to:
+ $9.99 Small Business SharePlan secondary lines with data plan of $29.99 or higher.
+ $9.99 Family SharePlan secondary lines with data plan of $29.99 or higher.
* Free promotional offer cannot be added to:
o Flat rate plans; i.e., $11.99 or $14.99, or
o Data only plans; i.e., $49.99 or $69.99 (Global BlackBerry)
+ Qualified BlackBerry customers who activate the Push to Talk feature on a standalone data only plan will pay the standard $5 add-on feature rate.

Morgan
Verizon Wireless
Area Operations

Notice: Content posted by Verizon employees is meant to be informational and does not supercede or change the Verizon Forums User Guidelines or Terms or Service, or your Customer Agreement Terms and Conditions or Plan.

She added the feature to my plan and I am DLing te app right now!

[PressureDrop]

Originally Posted by PressureDrop

I am DLing te app right now!

The link (follow using your BB) is:
Push to Talk

[CT-Mike]

Just got off the phone with VZW and added the *FREE* PTT feature. Now I just need to add a PTT contact to test things out.

[PressureDrop]

Originally Posted by CT-Mike

Just got off the phone with VZW and added the *FREE* PTT feature. Now I just need to add a PTT contact to test things out.

yeah - its pretty lame that my wife and I are the only 2 people I know who have Verizon AND have a Tour! Maybe PTT will catch on though

[Sydman]

Same here added it for free and downloaded app. But who do I talk to........ :(

[KonTiki]

The problem is that you can only install it if you have the Verizon OS because it is associated to the radio, and since I wont use the their software since i am so happy with the .419 i cant install it at all. Not a great loss as stated already you install it and who are you going to use it with?

[Infernalblaze]

like everyone else has been saying just got off the phone with VZW and its free to add until the end of your contract

[KonTiki]

Instead of Ptt they should have called pffffft