Push to Talk Expands in Canada

Canada's Telus Mobility has launched a Push to Talk service on their CDMA network, complimenting the iDEN platform that the company already operates under the "Mike" brand name. Telus Mobility also today announced the coming extension of Mike phone and PTT coverage from Canada and the United States into Mexico and South America later this quarter.

"Instant Talk and our Mike coverage expansion confirm Telus Mobility's position as Canada's PTT leader," said George Cope, president and CEO. "In the last decade, the powerful PTT capabilities of our Mike's Direct Connect service have made it the wireless tool of choice for Canadian business. Instant Talk now allows PCS clients entry into the world of instant Push To Talk communications."

Instant Talk, the newest PTT service from Telus Mobility, lets clients Push To Talk throughout Telus Mobility's 1X PCS coverage area across Canada. "Instant Talk has many of the capabilities of our more powerful Mike service, including instant contact and affordable rates. While Instant Talk is a lighter version of Mike's Direct Connect, it allows clients to communicate faster than with any standard wireless phone in Canada," said Cope.

Telus Mobility also announced that, in partnership with NII Holdings (formerly Nextel International), a mobile communications company for business clients in Latin America, it plans to launch Mike's Direct Connect and phone service in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Peru in Q1. Last year, Telus Mobility extended Mike's Direct Connect service throughout the continental United States and Hawaii.

"Last year's extension of Mike's Direct Connect service across the United States was an immense benefit to our clients who travel to the US or have business colleagues located there," said Cope. "Later this year, clients doing business in or with Mexico and South America's largest countries will enjoy the same immediate contact advantages, from Burnaby, BC to Brasilia or Bedford, Nova Scotia to Buenos Aires."

Posted to the site on 18th January 2005