Vodacom says it is researching push-to-talk (PTT) technology and conducting exploratory discussions with vendors before it considers any commercial plans for a PTT offering.
PTT gives a cellphone a walkie-talkie-type functionality where the user connects directly on a one-to-one or one-to-multi-party basis using GPRS.
Vodacom media relations manager Ivan Booth says no testing has been done on PTT and a business model has therefore not been investigated as yet.
"Vodacom has no specific current commercial plans for PTT. However, PTT services could be offered by third-parties making use of our GPRS network."
Booth says although a business model has not as yet been discussed, there are a number of options for deciding how to charge for such a service.
"PTT traffic could be charged for as GPRS usage or packaged as a service offering with charging done on a per-session basis. Another option would be to bill both the sender and recipients, or reverse all the charges to the sender.
"However, an ideal commercial charging model for offering PTT still needs to be defined by getting input from international markets as well as feedback from local research," he says.
Commenting on how the market is likely to react to a service like PTT, Booth says it is difficult to speculate on the uptake, as it still has to be determined whether PTT would work as well as vendors claim it does.
He says if local service providers offer the service in a commercial proposition that assists companies in managing their non-discretionary communication costs, then PTT has the potential to become a well-used service.
MTN says it is unable to comment on PTT at this stage.
Handset push
While the networks discuss the possible release of PTT in the future, many of the handset providers will have PTT-enabled handsets on the market next year.
Nokia announced today it would release its first GSM PTT-enabled handset, the 5140, in the second quarter of 2004.
Like the 5210, the 5140 will be aimed at sports users and will include a number of applications including a fitness coach application, digital compass, built-in torch, integrated FM radio and a built-in VGA camera to communicate visually.
Nokia says the phone will be the first in a range of PTT-enabled handsets to be released in 2004. From 2005, all Nokia GPRS phones will be PTT-enabled.
Motorola expects to release a PTT-enabled handset in April or May, while Ericsson`s higher-level Java-enabled phones can already attain PTT functionality by downloading its Instant Talk package onto the phone.
Related story:
Cellphones to get walkie-talkie functionality
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