Nextel - Burried Treasure

Something slightly frustrates me. Years ago, before the merger of Sprint PCS and Nextel Communications into the new SprintNextel, Nextel emphesized there group Walkie-Talkie services. The service known as "Talk Group" allowed groups of up to 100 users in a common industry to talk to everyone with the push of a button in under a second. It was inter operable through departments. First responders in public and private sector utilized the service, extensively. Nextel, in 2005, started to offer a handset based service, more focused on the consumer market, called Group Connect. This is simular to Talk group, but is handset based, can use multiple accounts and Fleets (ill come back to the fleets later), but is also limited to 20 users. Both services, but especially the Talk Group service, could be tremendously helpfull for many solutions but especially public sector. For example, when aquiring new service, every fireman, poliece man, ambulance crew member etc, could replest that there radio ID have the first responder fleet ID. then they would request to be added to thier local areas first responder group. at which point any emergancy that was transmitted to the group, they could participate in, reguardless of thier specific departmetns exisitng radio network or technology. This would mean clean communication to all those who needed to be in a critical loop.

Let me define Radio ID. Each Nextel unit came with two numbers, 1. the cell phone number and 2. the radio ID. The radio ID was divided into 3 parts. Area number*Fleet ID*Unit number. For example a common radio ID for North Easter OK with a 918 area code would be 142*90*12345. Everyone on the 142*90 could apply to be on the same Talk Group.

Momentum for these services where gaining ground up until around 2005. Third quarter of 2005, Nextel and Sprint PCS merged to from SprintNextel. At this point the focus of the business shifted from Nextels business customers, which comprised 96% of their customer base, to consumer. So many of these special, yet crucial, services took a back seat. About 9 months ago I saw an interview with Dennis Leary, about his work with fire fighters. They where desperate for a quality instant communication for first responders. I was flustered, knowing that there is great product already in effect, but because of commercial corporate capitalism based finance, has been hidden from public view. Now the same sentiment is being echoed in the FCC's public safety requirements in the new 700MHz auctions. The effective solution has already been created and implemented and has a proven track record but has been tucked away in a back closet some ware, where only a few are aware of it and even fewer utilize it. A great analogy would be the the final scene in the movie Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark where they hide the Ark in the back of a warehouse. Now SprintNextel is wanting to re-emphasize their Direct Connect walkie-talkie service, but still are not focusing on their public safety Talk Group service.

So If you are a first responder, especially a decision maker for a department, go to a SprintNextel store, ask for a Nextel rep and have then explain Talk Group. Not Group Connect, but Talk Group. If they cant, shame on them, find another rep. This is a service that can benefit every metropolitan community in the US. The service was there for 9/11 (never went down, but not all responders had the phones), It was the most reliable service in Katrina and in the earthquake in Hawaii last year. All landlines networks can go down and users would still have 128bit Triple DES encrypted secure communication. Instant, Secure, Interoperable Nation Wide, First-Responder ready, communication is available, Right Now.