OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), June 18, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced it has added more coverage area to its Sprint Direct Connect push-to-talk service – creating three times the push-to-talk coverage of its Nextel National Network – with the addition of roaming and Sprint 1xRTT coverage areas.1 Sprint Direct Connect – the new gold standard in push-to-talk – supports broadband capabilities, the latest business productivity applications, social media and multimedia, and future push-to-X capabilities on Sprint’s broadband CDMA network.
The launch of 1xRTT and roaming is the latest in a series of enhancements to Sprint Direct Connect designed to encourage customer migration from the Nextel National Network platform and to appeal to new customers.
“The coverage expansion through roaming and 1xRTT takes Sprint Direct Connect to a new level,” said Uday Patel, director-Sprint Direct Connect Marketing. “To all customers – from first responders who consult with peers across time zones to big businesses that use push-to-talk to communicate with employees on different coasts – the expansion will have instant value.”
He added that the broadened U.S. coverage complements Sprint Direct Connect’s recently deployed international connectivity. “Across the country or across international borders, Sprint Direct Connect provides the new gold standard for push-to-talk reach,” Patel said.
Customers will experience the same instant connectivity when a push-to-talk call has been established, however the initial call setup time will increase slightly if a user is in a 1xRTT area or when roaming.*
The expansion of the Sprint Direct Connect network also marks another milestone for Network Vision, Sprint’s nationwide network upgrade using the newest, most advanced equipment in the industry. Sprint plans to consolidate multiple network technologies into one seamless network with the goal of increasing efficiency and enhancing network coverage, call quality and data speeds for customers.
Earlier this month, Sprint announced it will decommission its iDEN network as early as June 30, 2013 as part of Network Vision plans. Network Vision is expected to add net economic value for Sprint from reduced roaming costs, cell site reduction, backhaul efficiencies, more efficient use of capital, and energy costs savings.
The company has already discontinued selling iDEN devices in most channels and will slow distribution further in the months ahead. Sprint will continue to support business customers with iDEN devices as needed during their transition to the Sprint Direct Connect service.
For more information:
- Sprint Direct Connect, www.sprint.com/sprintdirectconnect
- Sprint Direct Connect coverage, www.sprint.com/coverage
- Network Vision, www.sprint.com/network
