Treo 680 to Receive Push To Talk Capability?

Posted By: Kris Keilhack Wednesday, December 13, 2006 11:26:09 AM

Rumor: The Boy Genius Report, is reporting that the recently-released Cingular Treo 680 is going to receive a software update to enable Push-to-Talk functionality. Push-to-talk, usually abbreviated to PTT, is a "Walkie Talkie" mode for cellular telephones similar to Nextel's Direct Connect system. No date is given in the article for the availability of this update.

To date, Cingular has lagged Verizon and Sprint/Nextel on offering PTT services and compatible devices. However, with the increased rollout of their new HSDPA network in 2007, Cingular are likely looking to utilize a trickle-down method of initially rolling out PTT on their higher-end smartphone and data-centric devices such as the 8525, BlackBerry Pearl, and Treo 680.

The Treo formfactor already has a powerful speakerphone and a programmable "smart" button on the side of the telephone that would be perfectly suitable for PTT applications. A PTT update would also go a long way toward appeasing some of the Treo users on Cingular frustrated by the lack of wi-fi capabilities on their devices. The only potential drawback to grafting PTT functionality onto the 680 would be a reduction of the already limited battery life.

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I don't see mention of the 680 in the article

Spock9 @ 12/13/2006 2:38:19 PM # Q
Where do you see it?

RE: I don't see mention of the 680 in the article
hkklife @ 12/13/2006 3:00:07 PM # Q
Sigh...

"Recently we found out that the Treo 680 will be receiving an update to include push-to-talk in its feature list..."



Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

RE: I don't see mention of the 680 in the article
Ryan @ 12/13/2006 3:07:53 PM # Q
A leaked Cingular report also said the 680 would be getting PTT as well.

http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9062/treo-680-release-date-and-pricing/

RE: I don't see mention of the 680 in the article
hkklife @ 12/13/2006 3:46:11 PM # Q
Thanks for the reminder, Ryan. So much has happened since October that I had completely forgotten about that leaked Cingular roadmap.

A shame how Palm is takng the "budget" 680 *SO* much more seriously than they have taken the 700p.

Already several new features & updates announced/hinted at for the 680 whereas the 700p cannot even get a single ROM update.



Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

RE: I don't see mention of the 680 in the article
SeldomVisitor @ 12/13/2006 4:05:12 PM # Q
I was under the impression that the 680 was a warmed-over 650 internally - essentially the same thing. This would suggest fast updates et al, right?


RE: I don't see mention of the 680 in the article
cervezas @ 12/13/2006 5:26:58 PM # Q
hkklife wrote:
A shame how Palm is takng the "budget" 680 *SO* much more seriously than they have taken the 700p.

As if Palm had any say in the matter. Every major feature of a phone that's released on a network is there because the carrier said so. Not that Palm isn't delighted to offer PTT, just that the decision wasn't up to them, it was up to Cingular.

SeldomVisitor wrote:

I was under the impression that the 680 was a warmed-over 650 internally - essentially the same thing.

I don't know what you mean by "warmed over" (and I suppose you probably don't either) but it's got a new radio, lots more memory, much better voice quality, and from my use of it (calling, emailing, texting, browsing, a little server maintenance and the usual PIM stuff) it seems to be rock solid and fast. I'm in my 7th week of using it and it has only crashed once. That was running some experimental software I had developed which had a bug in it. Warmed or not, it's much, much better than the 650.

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com/blog

RE: I don't see mention of the 680 in the article
SeldomVisitor @ 12/13/2006 5:38:54 PM # Q
Is the physical memory more or did PALM delete some software to make more ram available?

Processor the same?

Software the "same"?

What =is= really different?


RE: I don't see mention of the 680 in the article
freakout @ 12/13/2006 5:49:55 PM # Q
SV, there's definitely a bigger RAM chip in it. It also has a slightly nicer screen: it doesn't have the bluish tint to it that the 650 did. And, as David mentioned, a new & improved radio. Bluetooth performance is also much improved. (for joad: yes, it stays paired! whereas the 650 would disconnect a BT headset after a while, the 680 has stayed happily tethered to mine all through the night.)

Tim
I apologise for any and all emoticons that appear in my posts. You may shoot them on sight.
Treo 270 ---> Treo 650 ---> Crimson Treo 680
RE: I don't see mention of the 680 in the article
SeldomVisitor @ 12/14/2006 8:39:03 AM # Q
Well, this is pretty much moot right now - on the 24th we'll be able to peruse the guts of the two devices to see how different they look physically inside.

The 650 FCC ID is O8FCAGEMS.

The 680 FCC ID is 08F-850.

You can go here:

-- https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm

and look for "PALM", for example, then page through their filings. As of the time of this post the interesting parts of the 680 filing are still confidential.

=========

BTW - I seem to remember the CEO saying something like (broad paraphrase):

== "The 680 is the same as the 650."

but I can't find a transcript that suggests that - it is possible it was during an analyst presentation rather than an earnings call.

Or maybe I'm just getting feebly weird in my old age.

In any case, wait til Christmas Eve!

Don't forget now!
SeldomVisitor @ 12/22/2006 1:44:44 PM # Q
See directly above.

RE: I don't see mention of the 680 in the article
SeldomVisitor @ 12/25/2006 10:24:52 AM # Q
The FCC site/database-access is broken so no photos yet!

However, from one of the already-released docs re the 680, a tidbit:

== "...I reviewed the full version of user manual, I found
== this device has two options. One with camera and the other
== one without camera..."

RE: I don't see mention of the 680 in the article
SeldomVisitor @ 12/26/2006 10:39:24 AM # Q
Now available.

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Could somebody please explain this to me?

moofie @ 12/13/2006 4:11:58 PM # Q
I know why the phone companies like PTT. Half duplex calls take less bandwidth.

Why on EARTH do regular people think it's better? Is pushing a button to dial a specific person really that difficult?

I'm sure I'm missing something.

Reply to this comment

Push....wait....talk

StatCoder.com @ 12/13/2006 4:51:21 PM # Q
Anyone else here have a hard time envisioning their Treo acting like a walkie-talkie? My Treo 680 doesn't do ANYTHING without some kind of 1 to 2 second pause. The side button makes a system beep when you press it but as far as I can tell, it can't be mapped to anything. Pressing it and holding it down starts voice record.
Remap Treo 680 Side Button
freakout @ 12/13/2006 5:05:32 PM # Q
Prefs --> Buttons. I have mine mapped to pTunes, since the need to record a voice memo doesn't crop up all that often.


RE: Push....wait....talk
StatCoder.com @ 12/14/2006 9:57:34 AM # Q
You can map the press-and-hold-the-side-button function but there is no mapping to do anything if you just press the side button. This would be the logical place to map the push-to-talk function.
Reply to this comment

Button

ChiLLFiRe @ 12/13/2006 5:11:55 PM # Q
Yes,

U can change the functions on the prefs window...Had mince configured also.

"Do you know the difference between an error and a mistake? Anyone can make an error, but that error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to correct it."
-Grand Admiral Thrawn
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Push To Talk should be a criminal offense

Gekko @ 12/13/2006 7:14:17 PM # Q

I hate it when these a$$holes insist on cranking up their speakerphone and forcing me to listen to that annoying chirp and their idiotic conversations. All Push to Talk a$$holes should be publicly beaten after the first offense.



RE: Push To Talk should be a criminal offense
freakout @ 12/13/2006 8:32:36 PM # Q
^^ I dunno; I prefer being able to hear the other side of the conversation when there's some inconsiderate jerk talking loudly in a public place. Hearing one side of some inane loser's life is even more frustrating.

Plus, when they're on speaker, you can happily interrupt their conversation with your own two cents. Like "Just dump the loser already!", as I said to the stupid girl talking to her friend about her dead-beat boyfriend on the train to Penrith the other day. I got a laugh out of it from the other passengers and she lowered her damn voice, and the volume! Win-win!

Tim
I apologise for any and all emoticons that appear in my posts. You may shoot them on sight.
Treo 270 ---> Treo 650 ---> Crimson Treo 680

Only idiots and contractors use PTT
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 12/13/2006 8:59:56 PM # Q
PTT = Phone Trailer Trash

A 2004 study from Duke University showed that individuals subscribing to PTT services had an average IQ 10 points lower the general population's average. Anyone around these slackjawed PTT imbeciles can corroborate this study's findings...


TVoR

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