Sprint Nextel Unveils Four Push-To-Talk Mobile Phones

Four new push-to-talk mobile phones will be available in many regions of the United States beginning Sunday, offered by Sprint Nextel, which is trying to reposition the technology that once elevated Nextel before it was acquired by Sprint.

The new Nextel Direct Connect phones operate over Sprint's Mobile Broadband network and are powered by Qualcomm's QChat technology.

To be offered in 40 major markets beginning Sunday, the phones will be made available in additional markets throughout the year, Sprint said. Because the phones can operate on portions of Sprint's Rev. A network, call setup times of less than 1 second will be available.

The phones, which are available with a two-year service agreement, are supplied by LG, Samsung, and Sanyo.

LG's LX400 has a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and GPS capabilities, as well as noise reduction features; it's available starting at $79.99.

A rugged model designed for harsh environments is offered at $79.99 by Sanyo and meets military standards for resisting dust, shock, and vibration.

Samsung's Z400 is an ultra-rugged device in a clamshell design that is certified to military specification 810F for dust, shock, and vibration. The Z400 has a 1.3-megapixel camera, and Sprint Navigation and Bluetooth support. It's priced beginning at $99.99.

Sanyo's PRO-200 also has a clamshell design and is available for $49.99.

Nextel rode its once-innovative push-to-talk feature to record sales and profits before Sprint acquired the company. However, Sprint has encountered difficulty melding the Nextel unit into its networks and has written off nearly all of the $30 billion it paid to acquire Nextel in 2004.