Sprint QChat is live – 40 markets, 4 new handsets
By Will Park on Tuesday, June 17th, 2008 at 5:49 PM PST In Announcements, Devices, LG, Samsung, Sanyo, Services, Sprint
Sprint’s delayed nationwide push-to-talk (PTT) system, dubbed QChat, went live on Sunday, June 15. With Sprint (NYSE: S)’s Nextel arm still reigning king as the benchmark of push-to-talk providers, Sprint has expanded the service to its CDMA subscribers.
QChat is now available coast-to-coast in over 40 markets in the US. Sprint subscribers in cities like Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Orlando can now choose from one of four new handsets that are compatible with
QChat.
Sprint is offering QChat hopefuls a choice of an LG LX400 – with a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and GPS for $79.99; a rugged Samsung Z400 – with a 1.3 megapixel camera, Sprint Navigation, Bluetooth, and touch design for $99.99; a Sanyo (OTCPK: SANYY) PRO-700 – with Sprint Navigation, Bluetooth, and rugged exterior for $79.99; or a Sanyo PRO-200 – with Sprint Navigation and Bluetooth for $49.99. Of course, all prices reflect a 2-year wireless contract and applicable rebates.
So, if you thought PTT was fading away, think again. Sprint’s here to make sure iDEN PTT’ers are going to have some company.
So are all the phones listed here scheduled to be released at the same time?
Yup, the handsets should already be live and in-channel. According to my Sprint contact the handsets are all available and Nextel Direct Connect is active on all Rev. A portions of the network.