[balibe]

This was posted at RIMarkable.com today ....

Rumor has it that in the Fall of next year, Sprint will be releasing a new BlackBerry that will bridge PTT networks between Nextel and Sprint subscribers. One of the main reasons that Nextel subscribers have been so slow to move off the iDEN network over to Sprint’s CDMA network is because of imcompatability of PTT between the two networks.

QChat, a PTT technology from Qualcomm, will allow the 2-way walkie-talkie feature made famous by Nextel to work inter-network between the Sprint network and the Nextel network. QChat also runs at speeds that rival what Nextel subscribers are currently used to.

[1badss]

great news, but I have to wait almost a year, that sucks. Oh well, i use my DC too much to give it up until they come up with an alterntive system.

[pimp7100i]

so uh this means nextel is going to release a new blackberry. I bet it's going to be the newer 7100 series model with differnt style case. Since I heard the 8100 series and 8700 series is out the question for us. Nextel is killing us with blackberry selections 7520 and the 7100i yeah :C two dinosaurs

[Jack T. Chance]

It's too little, too late for this CrackBerry junkie!

IF Sprint Nextel had gone ahead and released the 8702i this past fall, like they were supposed to, then I MIGHT have had a reason to stay... especially if it had worked with the Widen network (Nextel's equivalent to EDGE) and if said network was still up & running (which it currently is NOT, at least not in the Washington, DC/Baltimore market).

But, since none of that is true, Sprint left me no choice but to take my business elsewhere. A year without a shiny new 8700 was quite long enough, thankyou!

I'm posting this message from my brand new 8700g on xxx9642;Txxx9642; xxx9642; xxx9642;Mobilexxx9642;. In another week or so, I'll be transferring my Nextel number to my new phone, and it'll be "so long, Sprint, you stupid mother frakkers!"

I'm gonna miss the world's best walkie-talkie/push-to-talk service, but at least my 8700g has a speaker worthy of a Nextel phone! I can finally HEAR my ringtones, which is more than I can say for my old Nextel 7520! She's a great device, and she's served me faithfully for just shy of 2 years, but the speaker's definitely subpar by Nextel's high standards.

[bchelms]

interesting, thanks

[typeshprelude98]

Sprint is talking about VOIP with Sprint's new REV-A EVDO for the walkie talkie service...
Sprint has launched 2 "hybrid" phones. the blend and the buzz....ic402, and ic502 by motorola...

These phones use sprint coverage and roaming coverage(Nextel not included) for cellular service and Nextel's iDEN network for the PTT...

By the end of 2011 Sprint wants all non government Nextel users in "hybrid" phones.

[jase0626]

You know you can't really complain. Its been a long time coming. I love my DC but the cost of the bb service and speed from Nextel really stinks. In a few weeks the one real reason I keep nextel is going to be over, not sure what I am going to do.

There are many reason to switch, cheeper BB, more features (i.e. Text Messaging) newer BBs and the list goes on.

I guess I will just have to wait and see.

[1badss]

actually they want to move everyone to the CDMA network. The hybrids are just a way to get people to start moving over until the new QChat system is up and running by the end of the year and then they will be pushing all nextel users to go full CDMA.

Originally Posted by typeshprelude98

Sprint is talking about VOIP with Sprint's new REV-A EVDO for the walkie talkie service...
Sprint has launched 2 "hybrid" phones. the blend and the buzz....ic402, and ic502 by motorola...

These phones use sprint coverage and roaming coverage(Nextel not included) for cellular service and Nextel's iDEN network for the PTT...

By the end of 2011 Sprint wants all non government Nextel users in "hybrid" phones.

[Webhead68]

I'm heard rumors of these "hybrid" phones. I heard something about them having 2 sim cards. Any truth to this?

[1badss]

it would not have two sim cards. if it is going to be a hybrid it would have one sim card for the PTT through nextel but sprint w/ CDMA does not use sim technology.