Push To Talk standard approved

The Push to talk standard, which allows walkie-talkie like communications via wireless phones has been officially standardized as OMA (Open Mobile Alliance) gave it its final approval. The PoC (Push-to-talk over cellular) 1.0 will allow carriers to deploy and phone manufacturers to use components and software from different vendors, thus reducing their costs. The standard will also allow subscribers to place PTT calls to people with different carrier. According to analysts, most carriers are expected to deploy the new OMA standard, with the exception of Sprint Nextel. Nextel is currently using iDEN, a proprietary system developed by Motorola and is expected to substitute it with Sprint's CDMA and use QChat Push-to-Talk system developed by Qualcomm.

Source: InfoWorld