Sprint's Direct Connect Now app brings push-to-talk to the Kyocera Rise with more phones coming

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), October 24, 2012 - Sprint (NYSE: S), the industry’s push-to-talk pioneer and market leader, today announced the launch of Sprint® Direct Connect® Now, a downloadable Android application that enables push-to-talk capabilities on the Kyocera Rise and additional devices, including the LG Optimus Elite™, coming soon.

Sprint Direct Connect Now, based on Qualcomm Inc.’s proven push-to-talk technology platform, effectively extends Sprint’s growing push-to-talk franchise – with more than 1 million Sprint Direct Connect customers – to a new market of users who want push-to-talk but may not want the Direct Connect “button” that comes with it. Sprint Direct Connect Now can be installed on the Kyocera Rise by accessing the Google Play store and searching for “Sprint Direct Connect Now.”

Sprint Direct Connect Now key features:

Interoperable with Nextel Direct Connect and Sprint Direct Connect
Group Connect calls up to 21 participants
Call alerts to notify others you want to talk without interrupting
Convenient touchscreen controls
Displays contact image for speaker
Synchronizes contacts with device’s address book
Creates favorites for most contacted Direct Connect contacts
“Consumers and businesses alike have a tool in Sprint Direct Connect Now that can help mobilize their lives, their businesses, and their workforces – on select phones other than those in the Sprint Direct Connect portfolio,” said Tom Roberts, vice president-Marketing. “At the same time, Sprint Direct Connect Now is the ideal complement to our growing portfolio of rugged, military spec Sprint Direct Connect handsets that our longtime push-to-talk customers have grown accustomed to – especially construction workers, manufacturers and emergency responders.”

“Sprint Direct Connect Now expands access to next-generation push-to-talk functionality,” said Michael Wallace, senior vice president and general manager of Qualcomm Internet Services. “This offering, leveraging Qualcomm’s IP-based push-to-talk platform, enables functionality and device selection ideal for a broader base of consumers.”

Sprint currently offers rugged Sprint Direct Connect handsets from Kyocera, including the DuraCore, DuraPlus and DuraXT. All three meet military specification 810G for dust, shock, vibration, extreme temperatures, blowing rain and immersion. Each comes with GPS navigation and can access 3G speeds on Sprint’s broadband CDMA network.

The Sprint Direct Connect portfolio also includes the Motorola Admiral, a rugged 3G Android smartphone with touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard that is Wi-Fi-enabled and mobile hotspot capable.

Another milestone for Sprint Direct Connect

Sprint Direct Connect Now marks another major milestone for the Sprint push-to-talk franchise. The Sprint Direct Connect launch in October 2011 ushered in the next generation of PTT service from the company that pioneered push-to-talk. The service first offered broadband data capabilities, familiar push-to-talk features, rugged and reliable handsets, and a broadening push-to-talk coverage map.

Today, Sprint Direct Connect has matured into the industry’s push-to-talk gold standard with:

Triple the square miles of coverage compared to the company’s legacy Nextel National Network
Instant call setup time on domestic PTT calls
International coverage to Latin American countries that most frequently use PTT service
About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 56 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers and most improved in customer satisfaction across all industries during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.