Ericsson's «Instant Talk» or «Verbal SMS»

A new, verbal way to send messages via the GSM network that does not require users to type in a SMS is here, Swedish-based telecommunications giant Ericsson has announced. And, like current text-based SMS's, it costs less than a cellphone call, reports Cool Tech.

"Thanks to Push to Talk (PTT) technology, existing cellular networks can be used to send the equivalent of verbal SMS to multiple recipients, similar to that used by internet chat rooms.

"In order to use verbal SMS, PTT users should register with their respective networks to be PTT-enabled, then set up a “buddy list” on their phones. Each contact that has their phone switched on is highlighted on this list to show they are immediately available. Users can choose to mark themselves as unavailable when in meetings or when they require privacy.

Ericsson felt the US regulations restricting PTT users to one network each was an unattractive solution. Instant Talk, a PTT solution, has been designed with interoperability in mind and it ensures users from different cellular providers can send and receive messages without network problems".

emily | 4:12 PM | PTT (Push-to-Talk) |
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