Kirb’s Musings

Kirby Witmer’s ponderings, ruminations, and meditations of… anything.

It sure took them long enough, but Sprint has finally released the new Nextel Direct Connect which runs on Qualcomm’s Qchat technology. (The current Nextel network runs on the iDen network.) However, it will only be available to about 40 different markets in the beginning. These new Qchat phones will be able to Direct Connect to existing Nextel network phones. In fact, some of the folks over at Howard Forums have already gotten their hands on a Sprint Qchat phone and have been able to direct connect folks on the Nextel network. In addition to interoperability with the Nextel network, Sprint has introduced some new features which are exclusive to Qchat enabled phones:

* Single number option: If they wish, most customers purchasing these new phones can choose the simplicity of having one phone number for voice and push-to-talk calls. If preferred, customers can opt to have a separate Direct Connect number.
* TeamDC(R): This more formal one-to-many feature allows up to 35 Nextel Direct Connect subscribers to communicate via PTT at the same time - nationwide, quickly and easily. Customers create and manage groups online, then all members of the group receive a notification and can access the group. TeamDC is only available on these new phones and is not interoperable with Nextel or PowerSource phones.
* DC Permissions: Customers have the ability to block/allow incoming one-to-one push-to-talk calls and Call Alerts with the new phones.
* DC Missed Call Notification: - When on a Nextel Direct Connect call, customers receive a notification if they miss a push-to-talk call, Call Alert or Group call.
* Call Alerts with Text: With the new Call Alerts with Text feature, customers can attach one of several preset text messages, such as “Please stop by,” to Call Alerts sent to users of NDC phones powered by the QChat technology.
* Sprint Mobile Sync: This easy-to-use online tool lets customers manage all of their contact information online, including setting up groups. Additionally, this feature automatically synchronizes with the phone, allowing for easier entry, easier access and full secure backup of contacts. Contacts automatically transfer if the customer moves to another Sprint Mobile Sync-capable phone.

I’ve been a customer of nextel for years, since 2003 to be exact, (My dad has been a customer even longer, his first Nextel phone was a i1000.) and I remember when the Nextel network in our area here was hands down the best and I had lots of direct connect numbers in my phonebook. That has since changed. The network took a turn for the worse after Sprint purchased Nextel, and gradually the customers started leaving one by one. I have lots of friends who have ditched their Nextel’s in favor of Verizon or At&t. I have been threatening to leave for a long time myself. All that to say, I’m excited about what Sprint has to offer with Direct Connect on Qchat. I can’t wait until it is released nationwide, and I can get my hands on a Qchat enabled Blackberry.

The big question is, does Direct Connect on Qchat still retain the annoying Nextel Chirp?