Orange to debut Push To Talk in UK

The Guardian has an in depth look at the first push to talk service, Orange’s Talk Now , to launch in the UK.

The system, which some pundits are predicting could be the next text messaging, has two main features. Firstly users can tell at a glance who, from their list of contacts, has their mobile switched on and can talk. Secondly PTT enables a mobile phone to moonlight as a walkie-talkie. Except that, unlike traditional walkie-talkies, which have a range of a few hundred feet, PTT-equipped phones work over phone networks so in theory users can contact someone no matter where in the world they are. There’s no need to dial a number and users can speak to pre-configured groups in seconds.