A Perfect Match: Enhanced Push-to-Talk and Rugged Phones from AT&T

DALLAS, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Tough phones and instant communications – that's a powerful combination. AT&T* today announced that its Enhanced Push-to-Talk (PTT) service is available for businesses and organizations of all sizes. With Enhanced PTT, AT&T customers can communicate faster, to larger talk groups, and across more types of handsets than ever before.

AT&T Enhanced PTT is designed for 4G LTE from the get-go, while others are still deploying push-to-talk services on legacy CDMA and iDEN networks.

AT&T's device lineup for Enhanced PTT provides the right device for the job – for every type of worker and every type of communication. Some of the newest devices in the line-up include:

Samsung Rugby® III: Starting soon, organizations can pick up the Samsung Rugby III for free with a two-year AT&T Enhanced PTT services agreement.** The Rugby III is a rugged flip phone that features a 2.4-inch QVGA display and a 3 megapixel camera. It includes a dedicated PTT button on the phone for easy access, is built to military specifications (810G specifications) and is waterproof, dust proof and shock resistant.***

In addition, AT&T offers Enhanced PTT on the Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro™, an Android smartphone that is built to military specifications (810G specifications) and comes with full device encryption and corporate email support. Organizations using Enhanced PTT can also choose the Samsung Galaxy S® III or Samsung Galaxy S® II Skyrocket™ and download the Enhanced PTT service onto those devices.

Sonim® XP5560 BOLT: AT&T is also working with Sonim Technologies to offer the Sonim® XP5560 BOLT,**** which just might be the world's toughest phone. This ultra-rugged device comes with a comprehensive 3-year warranty and will cost $199 for Enhanced PTT customers. The Sonim® XP5560 BOLT features a dedicated PTT button and can stand up to many challenges, including drops from more than six feet onto concrete and submersion in water for 30 minutes. Businesses that operate in the most extreme environments will be able to count on the Sonim® XP5560 BOLT with AT&T Enhanced PTT to keep employees in touch.

In addition, AT&T Enhanced PTT is currently the only cellular PTT solution that runs on both the BlackBerry® Curve™ 9360 and BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900. AT&T is offering several of these devices for free through AT&T Business Solutions with an AT&T Enhanced PTT two-year contract.^†

Key features of AT&T Enhanced PTT include:

• Larger contact lists and talk groups than competitive PTT solutions
• Ability to combine PTT services and mobile applications, with help from AT&T's team of mobility consulting and integration experts
• Access to the nation's largest 4G network
• Supervisory override and talk group scanning, features that were previously available only for two-way radio users
• Sub-second call setup

Priority Dispatch Inc., a leader in delivery and logistics services across the Midwest, signed up for AT&T Enhanced PTT through the early access program. According to John Pohlman, Network Manager for Priority Dispatch, "We evaluated lots of other push-to-talk solutions using enterprise-grade Wi-Fi as well as 3G/4G data connections, and the others did not perform as well as AT&T Enhanced PTT."

"Based on our rigorous testing across major U.S. markets, we found that AT&T Enhanced Push-to-Talk provides a robust user experience with call setup times of less than one second and voice quality that compares favorably with traditional cellular voice services," said Amit Malhotra, Global Director of Insights at Metrico Wireless (now part of Spirent Communications).

Organizations interested in AT&T Enhanced PTT can choose from two different rate plans:

• $5 per month when added to existing AT&T voice and data plans
• $30 per month for a PTT-only rate plan (no voice or non-PTT data included).

Both plans include unlimited PTT, and data used by the Enhanced PTT application will not count against the customer's monthly data totals or incur pay-per-use charges.

"For workers in industries like construction, manufacturing and public safety, mobile devices that can withstand harsh conditions are essential. We're offering AT&T Enhanced PTT on a variety of rugged devices to give our customers the performance and durability they need to get in touch quickly on the job – no matter what conditions they face," said Chris Hill, Senior Vice President, Advanced Solutions, AT&T Business Solutions.

For more information on AT&T Enhanced PTT visit http://www.att.com/EPTT.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

** The Samsung Rugby III is not a 4G-enabled device, but still works with AT&T Enhanced PTT. Samsung, Galaxy S, Rugby, Skyrocket and Rugby Pro are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

*** Meets US Mil-STD 810G for Dust, Humidity, Rain, and Shock. Waterproof against incidental exposure to water when all ports are tightly closed. NOT designed or intended for in water use. Submersible up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Waterproof based on IP67 rating.

**** The Sonim® XP5560 BOLT is non-stocked device and will not be sold at AT&T retail stores.

^† Additional restrictions apply on promotional pricing. Visit the AT&T Enhanced PTT pricing and promotions page for details.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.