OREANDA-NEWS. October 03, 2012. It’s time to make the call and switch to AT&T Enhanced Push-to-Talk (PTT). Beginning today, organizations can pre-register for AT&T’s highly-anticipated PTT service, which is expected to be commercially available this November, reported the press-centre of AT&T.

AT&T* Enhanced PTT will combine the benefits of traditional PTT communications – quick calling and group talking – with advanced capabilities such as mobile applications, smartphone compatibility and fast connections over 3G and 4G/LTE networks.

With AT&T Enhanced PTT services, businesses and organizations of all sizes will have these expected features:

Call up to 250 people with the push of a button.

See who’s available to talk immediately with AT&T Enhanced PTT’s presence indicators.

Download the AT&T Enhanced PTT client to compatible mobile devices, without any special configuration.

Allow supervisors to override PTT calls in order to communicate important, time-sensitive messages to their teams.

Use mobile applications, GPS or cameras on their phones during PTT calls.

Choose from up to six different handset options at launch.

Crowley Maritime Corporation, a worldwide transportation and logistics company, recently participated in AT&T’s Enhanced PTT charter program and has already made the decision to switch to AT&T’s service. Crowley’s brokers, who are responsible for coordinating deliveries of perishable items like fresh fruits and vegetables, will use AT&T Enhanced PTT to help make sure the cargo arrives at the right place, at the right time and under the right conditions.

“If our brokers can’t communicate quickly and move shipments effectively, we’re talking about loads and loads of spoiled goods,” said Wendy Whitten, IT Senior Analyst, Crowley Maritime Corporation. “AT&T Enhanced PTT has the coverage, speed and ease of operation that our team needs. And now, instead of carrying both a smartphone and PTT phone, our brokers only need one device to get the job done.”

“AT&T’s approach to PTT focuses on the critical new business requirement to mobilize employees,” said Sue Rudd, Director, Service Provider Analysis, Strategy Analytics. “The enhanced PTT service not only delivers high-performance voice communications, but leverages the employer's own mobile apps and all the network-based apps the employee needs to truly improve workers’ productivity on the job.”

Future plans for the AT&T’s Enhanced PTT solution include dispatching software for businesses that need to direct employees to specific places at specific times. A taxicab company, for instance, could use the location-aware dispatch application to determine which driver is closest to a pickup location, and then call the driver over PTT.

Organizations that simply can’t wait until November to start using AT&T Enhanced PTT can sign up now. AT&T’s “early access” program gives customers two options: pre-register for Enhanced PTT now and receive discounts on compatible smartphones, or activate a beta version of Enhanced PTT with no charges for the PTT client until the service launches.

AT&T is also continuing its successful Enhanced PTT charter program for organizations that want to evaluate the solution before registering.

“We’re getting great feedback on our charter program – and one of the things we’re hearing is that businesses don’t want to wait for commercial availability to sign up for Enhanced PTT,” said Chris Hill, Vice President, Advanced Mobility Solutions, AT&T Business Solutions. “Our early access program makes it possible for new subscribers to solidify their PTT migration plans now.”

For more information on AT&T’s Enhanced PTT early access program, please visit http://www.switchtoattptt.com.

*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.

**Actual product may not contain all described features, and may contain features different from, or in addition to, described features. This document is not an offer, commitment, representation or warranty by AT&T and is subject to change.