Telecom Lead America: In order to encourage customer
migration from the Nextel National Network platform and to appeal to new
customers, wireless major Sprint has expanded its Sprint Direct Connect
push-to-talk service with the addition of roaming and Sprint 1xRTT coverage
areas.
With these new coverage areas, the Nextel National
Network now offers three times more push-to-talk coverage to its customers.
As a part of Sprint’s Network Vision, Sprint Direct
Connect 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 coverage expansion through roaming and 1xRTT
takes Sprint Direct Connect to a new level. 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,” said Uday
Patel, director-Sprint Direct Connect Marketing.
The company said that the initial push-to-talk call setup
time will increase slightly if a user is in a 1xRTT area or when roaming.
Sprint ropes in vendors to decommission iDEN Network
Very recently, Sprint signed agreements with Goodman
Networks, Overland Contracting, Pyramid Network Services and WesTower
Communications for decommissioning of its iDEN network
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 expects to shut down a total of 9,600 iDEN
sites before the end of the third quarter 2012 to begin preparing for the
healthier network consolidation.
Sprint has already discontinued selling iDEN devices in
most channels and will slow distribution further in the months ahead.
editor@telecomlead.com
