[lhuff]

Direct Connect does not work phone to phone. It has to have a tower (or more) to work. Your phone hits the tower it is "on" which hits the other phone or uses phone lines to transfer the data to the tower the receiving phone is "on" and on to the other phone.

Direct Talk, included on some Nextel phones ONLY works phone to phone and while you have them in Direct Talk mode, Direct Connect and the phone won't work.

Direct Connect will only work underground if both phones can get to a tower.