14 DAY TRIAL // Siemens Communications and Ericsson finished the interoperability testing between push-to-talk compatible terminals and Ericsson's infrastructure (which includes push-to-talk servers). In a short time, Open Mobile Alliance will launch the first public version of the push-to-talk over Cellular (PoC) standard.
According to the statements of both companies involved, the new standard provides the users access to a service which extends the communication possibilities of the existing push-to-talk technology.
"The interoperability is essential to the adoption's success of the push-to-talk technology ", said Clemens Joos, president of the Mobile Devices division within Siemens Communications. "This is the reason why push-to-talk compatible mobile phones produced by Siemens, guarantee the access to IMS networks and are equipped with an open industry standard.
This year, over 10 models of push-to-talk compatible Siemens phones will be proposed to the public, and almost every model of the C class will integrate such a solution, which proves the company's interest in this new form of communication.
Until now, the interoperability tests of Ericsson infrastructure with Siemens phones were carried out using two models available on the: CX70 and C70. During CeBit, other models which will integrate this solution were presented: CL75, CX75, CF75, M75, and SXG75.
Push-to-talk represents the solution following the walkie-talkie and allows the unidirectional communication between one or more persons. The principle is that while one person is talking, the other is listening. First, the user selects the collocutor or the group he wishes to launch a PoC conversation with, and then by simply pushing a button, he starts talking with everybody involved.
The service is based on the "Always ON" function of the GPRS networks and for that reason installing the connection is free of charge. Any of the collocutors can intervene by pushing one button; of course, there is the disadvantage of unidirectional communication: the person who pushes the button first is the first to talk.