AT&T Inc. is doubling the number of businesses that may participate in its Enhanced Push to Talk (PTT) solution after receiving favorable customer feedback from a trial program for the technology.
In addition, AT&T expects to offer a choice of up to five compatible smartphones, including multiple devices from Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile), when Enhanced PTT is anticipated to be commercially available later this year.
“A feature-rich PTT solution plus an exciting lineup of SAFE(TM) mobile devices – it’s an ideal combination,” said Tim Wagner, vice president and general manager of enterprise sales at Samsung Mobile. “Samsung has a long history of working with AT&T, and we’re collaborating again on the launch of AT&T Enhanced PTT. Between AT&T’s service and our PTT phones, which today support the 810F Mil-STD for ruggedness, we’re helping make business communications better and faster for our customers.”
At a time when other carriers are phasing out PTT networks, AT&T’s goal is to provide customers with the type of communication service they need for instant group communications, backed by 4G technology and a broad portfolio of devices and business applications.
AT&T offers a basic PTT service today, but expects to launch its Enhanced PTT solution – with dramatically improved performance, features and device choices – in late 2012.
“We’ve heard what our customers are asking for – an enhanced PTT solution that offers great performance, advanced features, integration with mobile apps and interoperability with radio systems – all running on the nation’s largest 4G network,” said Chris Hill, vice president, advanced mobility solutions at AT&T Business and Home Solutions.
Over the next several months, AT&T will bring its first-ever Field Force Automation Advanced Technology Forum road show series to 27 cities in the U.S. Planned venues including Milwaukee on Oct. 27.
