Motorola Starts Trials of GSM Based Push-to-talk Handsets

Motorola has signed an agreement with Jordan's Fastlink to be the first in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region to pilot Motorola's GPRS based Push-To-Talk (PTT) solution. Point-to-point PTT calls to individuals and PTT group calls have been demonstrated successfully at Fastlink's facility in Amman.

"Motorola's heritage in Push-To-Talk systems provides a strong foundation for adding PTT to cellular technologies," said Margaret Rice-Jones, corporate vice president and general manager for Motorola GTSS EMEA. "PTT can attract customers and enhance revenues on an operator's existing GPRS network. It is one of many new features in our portfolio of end-to-end solutions."

Motorola has GPRS PTT trials and demonstrations with other wireless network operators in EMEA scheduled throughout the remainder of this year. Commercial launch of Motorola's GPRS PTT solution is targeted for 2004.

"The ability to provide our customers with innovative new services like Push-To-Talk is vital to ensure we retain our market-leading position in Jordan," said Mohammad Saqer, CEO of Fastlink. "Mobile usage in Jordan is predicted to more than double in the next three years. PTT service will help our customers to stay connected, informed and efficient in this fast developing market."

Motorola's PTT solution works with both GPRS and CDMA 2000 1X networks. The conversation exchange is managed by half-duplex sessions that allow only one party to talk at one time.

Motorola's PTT server solution is based on the common platform for Motorola's IP Multi Media Sub-System (IMS) solution and supports the IP protocols that are part of Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The open architecture of Motorola's GPRS PTT solution enables operators to use any standards based GSM/GPRS infrastructure equipment, and any mobile terminal equipped with Motorola's PTT client."

Posted to the site on 28th July 2003