Verizon Wireless' Push to Talk Offers Instant, Cost-Effective Communication for Mobile Workers

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Organizations in industries including public safety, transportation, construction, manufacturing and utilities rely on Verizon Wireless' Push to Talk feature to effectively communicate with employees in the field, plants or work sites.  At the touch of a button, Push to Talk enables business customers to instantly connect with individual employees and groups with a sense of urgency.  

Verizon Wireless offers an expansive array of devices, many of which meet rugged 810F Military Specifications for use in tough environments, that support Push to Talk and leverage Verizon Wireless' reliable 3G network for fast two-way communication, including:

• BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650
• CASIO® G'zOne Brigade™
• CASIO® G'zOne Ravine™
• Motorola Barrage™
• Samsung Convoy™

An example of a Verizon Wireless customer utilizing Push to Talk in their daily business communications can be seen in a domestic courier organization.  With over 100 drivers in their fleet across multiple states, the company has effectively deployed Push to Talk to share information immediately with one, a group or all drivers with last-minute route changes, pick-ups, road emergencies or other relevant traffic information.  Drivers can then adjust their course based on real-time information.

Principal benefits of Verizon Wireless' Push to Talk include:

• Group Calling – Push to Talk's Group Calling feature allows businesses to tailor communications.  For example, a distribution company can assign separate Push to Talk calling groups for drivers, warehouse workers and project managers so that relevant communications can be distributed to the appropriate team.
• Easy Contact Management – Business Account and Verizon Enterprise Center customers can easily manage up to 500 individual contacts and up to 100 group contacts with 50 people in each group. Administrators are able to manage contacts anytime online.
• Instant Two-Way Communication – Push to Talk offers two-way radio-type service via a designated button on select Verizon Wireless phones to provide instant voice communication.
• One Device, One Number – Verizon Wireless employs one phone number per device for voice, text and Push to Talk, eliminating the confusion of juggling multiple phone numbers.
• Presence – The Presence feature allows Push to Talk customers to view whether a colleague or direct report is available to talk before initiating a Push to Talk call.
• Extension of Land Mobile Radio Network – Push to Talk Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Interoperability Solution provides organizations with the ability to integrate the Push to Talk service with existing LMR systems to create a broader footprint.

"Verizon Wireless' Push to Talk capabilities continue to play an important role for our business customers in industries where one-touch communication aids in swift decision making in the field," said Janet Schijns, vice president, Business Solutions Group, Verizon Wireless.  "Push to Talk is a necessary business tool for first responders, law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency medical and many other professions where the user is out and about.  Push to Talk functionality is ideal to make reliable connections regardless of challenging terrain or diverse infrastructures."

Pricing

Push to Talk is available for a $5.00 monthly access charge per line when added to a qualifying voice plan.  The feature is free for a limited time with Push to Talk subscriptions added to compatible BlackBerry smartphones on voice plans of $34.99 monthly access or higher and an eligible data package.  

Business customers can take advantage of a limited-time offer to save $15.00 per line when they purchase Push to Talk and Field Force Manager Basic together.  This discount is only available for customers who sign up before March 31, 2011.

Customers can also choose a Push to Talk-only plan without voice calling for a $29.99 monthly access charge per line.  Push to Talk-capable handsets are required when subscribing to the service.

For more information about Verizon Wireless' Push to Talk service for businesses, visit http://b2b.vzw.com/pushToTalk/pushToTalk.html.  Additional products and services for businesses can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/business.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless