Jump to content

Sprint Direct Connect Now to be Android app

WiWavelength
 Share

Recommended Posts

WiWavelength Member Level: LTE Advanced

WiWavelength

Posted
Posted

A downloadable app is set to bring PTT to nearly all Sprint Android handsets.

 

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/9/3009480/sprint-direct-connect-now

http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/article.php?a=10397

http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/sprint-direct-connect-now/

 

AJ

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
LTE Member Level: Morse Code

LTE

Posted
Posted

This is a nice step forward for Direct Connect.

 

I do hope that they will bring dedicated SDC devices like the Duramax to Boost for prepaid use, though. Maybe after the iDEN shutdown?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
LTE Member Level: Morse Code

LTE

Posted
Posted

I'm wondering about direct talk, group talk ..etc. Will it include those?

 

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

 

I can't imagine they'd try to deploy a PTT solution without Group Connect.

 

As for Direct Talk, probably not. That's a Motorola feature which is specific to a small subset of iDEN devices. It's a really nice feature that I use frequently on my i355 handsets, but I doubt it will make an appearance until (if ever?) Motorola starts making devices for Sprint Direct Connect.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
david279 Member Level: eHRPD

david279

Posted
Posted

I'm kinda excited about this. I was a "true Nextel" subscriber for 4 years. PTT is a great in between for communications, when used properly.

 

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

Link to comment
Share on other sites
WiWavelength Member Level: LTE Advanced

WiWavelength

Posted
  • Author
Posted

As for Direct Talk, probably not. That's a Motorola feature which is specific to a small subset of iDEN devices. It's a really nice feature that I use frequently on my i355 handsets, but I doubt it will make an appearance until (if ever?) Motorola starts making devices for Sprint Direct Connect.

 

Not gonna happen. Direct Talk off network service operates in the unlicensed ISM 900 MHz band (a la some older cordless phones, baby monitors, etc.). This would have been relatively easy to implement in iDEN 800/900 dual band handsets, since those handsets already required the RF front end to support SMR 900 MHz (which is adjacent to ISM 900 MHz).

 

Current and upcoming Sprint handsets, however, support SMR 800 MHz but not SMR 900 MHz, as the latter band is not suitable for CDMA1X nor LTE. Thus, ISM 900 support is highly unlikely, and Direct Talk is likely to die alongside iDEN.

 

AJ

Link to comment
Share on other sites
WiWavelength Member Level: LTE Advanced

WiWavelength

Posted
  • Author
Posted

As an aside, Direct Talk has become practically "Cruise Wireless." Almost all references to Direct Talk revolve around its use onboard cruise ships.

 

AJ

Link to comment
Share on other sites
LTE Member Level: Morse Code

LTE

Posted
Posted

Not gonna happen. Direct Talk off network service operates in the unlicensed ISM 900 MHz band (a la some older cordless phones, baby monitors, etc.). This would have been relatively easy to implement in iDEN 800/900 dual band handsets, since those handsets already required the RF front end to support SMR 900 MHz (which is adjacent to ISM 900 MHz).

 

Current and upcoming Sprint handsets, however, support SMR 800 MHz but not SMR 900 MHz, as the latter band is not suitable for CDMA1X nor LTE. Thus, ISM 900 support is highly unlikely, and Direct Talk is likely to die alongside iDEN.

 

AJ

 

That's a great point.

 

Considering non-technical reasons, once Sprint gets the SDC service working on 1x and roaming, the need for Direct Talk will also diminish. DT itself was a clever, yet somewhat clumsily implemented solution for the large number of holes in iDEN coverage.

 

The 'clumsily implemented' statement refers to the fact that users must manually activate and deactivate DT, which is likely related to what AJ stated about the possible use of RF components for both iDEN and ISM modes.

 

In fact, when looking at the FCC docs for the i355 and i335 (and likely other DT capable handsets), Motorola clearly states that only one mode can be operational at a time. It's not a huge deal, but, forget to turn off DT and you won't be receiving any communications, nor will you know when network service is available again because only one mode can be active at a time. It's also tough to coordinate group activation of DT.

 

As an aside, Direct Talk has become practically "Cruise Wireless." Almost all references to Direct Talk revolve around its use onboard cruise ships.

 

AJ

 

Interesting - that's the first I've heard of DT being used in such a way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
miguell2 Member Level: 3G EVDO

miguell2

Posted
Posted

Now I wonder how long it will be before we see this become an iPhone app as well?

 

It doesn't take a great leap of the imagination to see that happening. I would imagine Sprint even going as far as allowing other carrier's phones to install the app provided they pay the monthly fee. It could be a good revenue generator if it takes off in that way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MacinJosh Member Level: LTE Advanced

MacinJosh

Posted
Posted

It doesn't take a great leap of the imagination to see that happening. I would imagine Sprint even going as far as allowing other carrier's phones to install the app provided they pay the monthly fee. It could be a good revenue generator if it takes off in that way.

 

It would be a good revenue generator now that as far as I can tell, at&t and vzw don't have ptt services anymore. Vzw may, but I don't see it offered at at&t anymore.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
miguell2 Member Level: 3G EVDO

miguell2

Posted
Posted

It would be a good revenue generator now that as far as I can tell, at&t and vzw don't have ptt services anymore. Vzw may, but I don't see it offered at at&t anymore.

 

I know AT&T still offers the service but they don't seem to advertise it openly. You have to have a business account to even get it. But yes it is there. I believe it is the same with VZW.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MacinJosh Member Level: LTE Advanced

MacinJosh

Posted
Posted

I know AT&T still offers the service but they don't seem to advertise it openly. You have to have a business account to even get it. But yes it is there. I believe it is the same with VZW.

 

Then Sprint could make a killing in the PTT market with this app.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
miguell2 Member Level: 3G EVDO

miguell2

Posted
Posted

Then Sprint could make a killing in the PTT market with this app.

 

I think many of the old Nextel users that left after the merger might give this one a try, specially if they know that they can talk with old iDEN phones (for as long as they are around) and ever international iDEN phones.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • large.unreadcontent.png.6ef00db54e758d06

  • gallery_1_23_9202.png

  • Posts

    • PedroDaGr8
      Official Tmobile-Sprint merger discussion thread

      By PedroDaGr8 · Posted

      Since this is kind of the general chat thread, I have to share this humorous story (at least it is to me): Since around February/March of this year, my S22U has been an absolute pain to charge. USB-C cables would immediately fall out and it progressively got worse and worse until it often took me a number of minutes to get the angle of the cable juuuussst right to get charging to occur at all (not exaggerating). The connection was so weak that even walking heavily could cause the cable to disconnect. I tried cleaning out the port with a stable, a paperclip, etc. Some dust/lint/dirt came out but the connection didn't improve one bit. Needless to say, this was a MONSTER headache and had me hating this phone. I just didn't have the finances right now for a replacement.  Which brings us to the night before last. I am angry as hell because I had spent five minutes trying to get this phone to charge and failed. I am looking in the port and I notice it doesn't look right. The walls look rough and, using a staple, the back and walls feel REALLY rough and very hard. I get some lint/dust out with the staple and it improves charging in the sense I can get it to charge but it doesn't remove any of the hard stuff. It's late and it's charging, so that's enough for now. I decide it's time to see if that hard stuff is part of the connector or not. More aggressive methods are needed! I work in a biochem lab and we have a lot of different sizes of disposable needles available. So, yesterday morning, while in the lab I grab a few different sizes of needles between 26AWG and 31 AWG. When I got home, I got to work and start probing the connector with the 26 AWG and 31 AWG needle. The stuff feels extremely hard, almost like it was part of the connector, but a bit does break off. Under examination of the bit, it's almost sandy with dust/lint embedded in it. It's not part of the connector but instead some sort of rock-hard crap! That's when I remember that I had done some rock hounding at the end of last year and in January. This involved lots of digging in very sandy/dusty soils; soils which bare more than a passing resemblance to the crap in the connector. We have our answer, this debris is basically compacted/cemented rock dust. Over time, moisture in the area combined with the compression from inserting the USB-C connector had turned it into cement. I start going nuts chiseling away at it with the 26 AWG needle. After about 5-10 minutes of constant chiseling and scraping with the 26AWG and 31AWG needles, I see the first signs of metal at the back of the connector. So it is metal around the outsides! Another 5 minutes of work and I have scraped away pretty much all of the crap in the connector. A few finishing passes with the 31AWG needle, a blast of compressed air, and it is time to see if this helped any. I plug my regular USB-C cable and holy crap it clicks into place; it hasn't done that since February! I pick up the phone and the cable has actually latched! The connector works pretty much like it did over a year ago, it's almost like having a brand new phone!
    • PedroDaGr8
      Galaxy S22 thread

      By PedroDaGr8 · Posted

      That's odd, they are usually almost lock step with TMO. I forgot to mention this also includes the September Security Update.
    • PythonFanPA
      Galaxy S24 Info & Discussion

      By PythonFanPA · Posted

      417.55 MB September security update just downloaded here for S24+ unlocked   Edit:  after Sept security update install, checked and found a 13MB GP System update as well.  Still showing August 1st there however. 
    • Paynefanbro
      Official Tmobile-Sprint merger discussion thread

      By Paynefanbro · Posted

      T-Mobile is selling the rest of the 3.45GHz spectrum to Columbia Capital.  
    • mdob07
      Galaxy S22 thread

      By mdob07 · Posted

      Still nothing for my AT&T and Visible phones.

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...