Sprint today announced that it will launch its CDMA-based Direct Connect service during the fourth quarter of the year. When it launches, the new Sprint Direct Connect will be available in an area that is three times larger than its current iDEN-based walkie-talkie service. Sprint said the first generation of devices to include this new service (two from Kyocera, one from Motorola) will offer most of the same push-to-talk features that are available on today’s iDEN handsets, as well as new features that take advantage of Sprint’s CDMA 3G network. Pricing and availability were not disclosed.
- Kyocera DuraMax: This rugged clamshell includes mil-spec 810G toughness and is encased in a rubber “Dura-Grip” material for easier use. It also has a 3.2 megapixel camera with video capture; 2-inch QVGA display; 1GB microSD card (support for 32GB); stereo Bluetooth and GPS radios; 2.5mm headset jack; and messaging applications.
- Kyocera DuraCore: This simpler rugged clamshell shares most of the features included in the DuraMax, but adds a bi-directional speakerphone and a large-font menu option. It loses the camera.
Other features offered by the DuraMax and DuraCore include Land Mobile Radio (LMR) interoperability, simultaneous data and push to talk, and availability notifications. Sprint said it will add more Direct Connect features in 2012, including international PTT. Sprint didn’t provide details on the Motorola handset.
