History of Nextel and Its Pioneering PTT Service
Nextel Communications was a prominent telecommunications company in the United States, founded in 1987. It became widely recognized in the 1990s and early 2000s for its unique Push-to-Talk (PTT) service, which functioned much like a digital two-way radio, allowing instant communication between users at the push of a button. This service was particularly popular among businesses and industries that required immediate and reliable communication, such as construction, transportation, and public safety sectors.
The backbone of Nextel's PTT service was the Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) technology, developed by Motorola. Operating primarily in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz frequency bands, iDEN combined the capabilities of a digital cellular telephone with the functionalities of a two-way radio. This integration allowed for voice calls, text messaging, and PTT services all within the same device and network infrastructure. Nextel's use of iDEN made it stand out in the market, offering a unique service that was unmatched by competitors at the time.
In 2005, Sprint Corporation acquired Nextel, leading to the formation of Sprint Nextel. However, due to technological advancements and the rise of newer cellular technologies like 3G and 4G LTE, the iDEN network was eventually phased out. Sprint officially decommissioned the iDEN network in 2013, shifting focus to more modern communication technologies.
Differences Between Nextel's iDEN Technology and Push-over-Cellular (PoC)
While both Nextel's iDEN-based PTT service and Push-over-Cellular (PoC) provide instant communication similar to walkie-talkies, they differ significantly in their underlying technologies and network architectures.
Network Technology:
iDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network): This is a proprietary technology developed by Motorola that integrates two-way radio and cellular phone functionalities. It uses Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) to allocate communication channels, allowing for immediate and dedicated connections between devices. The iDEN network is circuit-switched, which means it establishes a dedicated communication path for the duration of the call, leading to low latency and instant connectivity.
PoC (Push-over-Cellular): PoC operates over standard cellular networks using packet-switched technology. It relies on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to transmit voice data over 3G, 4G, or LTE networks. Since it uses the internet protocol, communication data is broken into packets and transmitted over shared network resources, which can introduce latency.
Latency and Connection Speed:
Nextel's iDEN: Offers near-instantaneous connection due to its circuit-switched nature and dedicated channels for PTT communication.
PoC: May experience higher latency because it depends on the quality and congestion of the data network. The packet-switched nature means that data packets may take variable paths and times to reach the destination.
Coverage and Capacity:
iDEN: Coverage is limited to areas where the iDEN network infrastructure is deployed. Since it's a specialized network, coverage may be less widespread compared to standard cellular networks.
PoC: Leverages existing cellular networks, providing broader coverage and the ability to function wherever there is cellular data connectivity, including internationally, depending on the service provider.
Scalability and Integration:
iDEN: Being a proprietary system, it's less flexible in integrating with other technologies and systems.
PoC: More adaptable and can be integrated with various applications and services due to its use of standard IP protocols.
Device Compatibility:
Nextel's iDEN: Required specialized devices compatible with the iDEN network.
PoC: Can operate on a wide range of smartphones and PTT Walkie Talkie devices that support the necessary software and have data connectivity.
In summary, Nextel's iDEN-based PTT service provided a dedicated, low-latency communication solution ideal for immediate and reliable voice communication, using specialized network technology and devices. On the other hand, Push-over-Cellular offers more flexibility and broader coverage by utilizing existing cellular data networks and standard devices but may sacrifice some immediacy and reliability due to potential network variability and higher latency.
We applaud the pioneering efforts of Nextel and that has evolved to the PoC technology we have today. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.