Nextel announces Group Connect, 21 party PTT

May 02 2005 - 03:17 PM ET | Nextel

Nextel today announced a major new push-to-talk feature called Group Connect (Nextel was using this name for another service which has now been re-named Talkgroup). Using a Group Connect enabled handset, users can add up to twenty contacts, for a total of 21 parties including the initiator, for a group chat. Currently only the newly announced Motorola i605 can take part in Group Connect, but more handsets are expected to debut shortly. A presence icon displays if a participant joined the call, opted out or is unavailable, much like an instant message buddy list.

---