Sprint Nextel dropping CDMA-based push-to-talk service

Sprint Nextel said it will no longer offer new CDMA EV-DO Rev. A devices that feature push-to-talk capability, known as Qchat, but will instead refocus its efforts on PTT phones using the company's iDEN network.

Sprint's original plan was to transition its iDEN users onto its CDMA network and eventually phase out the iDEN network. But last year the company announced it would keep the network. Since then it has been working to improve the network's quality and has launched new iDEN devices.

"Sprint will continue to support its existing QChat customer base to ensure their needs are met.  However, at this time there are no new QChat handsets on the product development roadmap," Sprint spokesman Scott Sloat told FierceWireless

Sprint first launched QChat devices in 2008, a move that allowed it to offer push-to-talk services over its EV-DO Rev. A network. The Qchat phones included a range of new features, including a repeating alert and group chat function that connected up to 20 users at once.

For more:
- read this FierceWireless article
- see this PhoneNews.com post

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