Sprint has announced new additions to its industry-leading Nextel Direct Connect portfolio, such as push-to-send location capability and new advertising. Users are now able to push-to-send their location, date, time and voice observations to a dispatcher, or call the center or another individual on the field through the simple push of the Nextel Direct Connect button and by leaving a message afterwards.

The new NextMail Locator is available only from Sprint and only to users who have purchased a select Nextel Direct Connect phone. The service is powered by Pacific DataVision and allows users who have a compatible phone to add GPS coordinates, physical street addresses, as well as interactive maps of their position to the NextMail voice messages, from where the info can be sent to any email address.

“Today’s launch of NextMail Locator and our new ads is the most recent example of our continuing commitment to our Nextel Direct Connect customers,” said Danny Bowman, president of Nextel Direct Connect for Sprint. “NextMail is a powerful service in the Nextel Direct Connect portfolio that users rely on to communicate information quickly, and adding the ability to push-to-send GPS location information makes it even more compelling.”

He also stated that “NextMail Locator will allow mobile workers in industries such as transportation, utilities, field service and public safety to increase productivity by communicating their voice message along with their location to their home office or another worker without waiting for a call to be answered.”

As a means of supporting the innovations of the Nextel Direct Connect, Sprint also launched a new ad campaign that includes radio, television, print and online ads meant to show Sprint’s leadership in push-to-talk services and devices. More information on the Nextel Direct Connect can be found on the company's site.