Sprint Pledges Their Commitment To The Nextel Network

Sprint said in a press release this week that they are committed to continuing the growth of their Nextel Network (push-to-talk). The desire for push-to-talk phone has declined recently in the consumer market. Push-to-talk is used more in business settings, construction and field workers more than anywhere else. The main manufacturer of Nextel phones has been Motorola. To help Sprint reiterate their commitment they have signed a long term deal with Motorola. You might recall some of the latest Nextel phones that were announced in recent months; Motorola i576, BlackBerry Curve 8350i, LG LX400, Samsung Z400, Sanyo Pro 200, Sanyo Pro 700 and Motorola Renegade(TM) V950.

“The iDEN network is a key differentiator for Sprint, as it allows us to offer products and services no other carrier in the industry can match. We continue to build on our support for our industry-leading push-to-talk Nextel Direct Connect franchise through our aggressive marketing efforts which exploit the unique features and functionality of the iDEN network,” said Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint. “In 2008, we expanded our product portfolio with a new line of Sprint phones, which combine industry-leading push-to-talk with the ultra-fast speed of Sprint Mobile Broadband (EV-DO Rev. A) and Sprint’s largest voice coverage, offering greater choice and flexibility to our customers. We are focusing on plans to continue our push-to-talk leadership and bring more innovation to our customers going forward.”

“Motorola has had a long and successful strategic relationship with Sprint, and we look forward to further strengthening this partnership,” said Sanjay Jha, co-chief executive officer and CEO of Mobile Devices, Motorola. “With its unique experience and functionality, iDEN has a loyal customer base and will continue to be an important part of Motorola’s portfolio. We actively support Sprint’s initiative and share its commitment and enthusiasm for the iDEN network.”

I don’t think that Sprint Nextel will try to target everyday consumers, but will continue to go after businesses that have a need for push-to-talk phones.