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Remember NEXTEL?

Meet the NEXT Generation of Push-to-Talk over Cellular

The History of NEXTEL

Compact and rugged devices with industry leading voice quality and digital noise suppression
Fast and low-cost deployments that require no infrastructure or frequency licenses

Founding

  • Morgan O’Brien, Brian McAuley, Chris Rogers, and Peter Reinheimer founded FleetCall in New Jersey in 1987
  • In 1993, FleetCall changed its name to Nextel Communications and was known for its push-to-talk “walkie-talkie” feature

Network

  • The Nextel network operated in the 800-MHz Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) spectrum band
  • The Nextel iDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) network transported digital voice packets

Growth

  • Nextel acquired many SMR operators in the late 1980s and 1990s and expanded rapidly to cover the major markets in the US
  • At its peak, Nextel had over 20 million subscribers

Merger and Closure

  • In 2005, Sprint merged with Nextel and adopted the name Sprint Nextel Corporation
  • The Nextel iDEN network was not easily compatible with emerging 3G and 4G technologies
  • In 2013, Sprint resumed using the name Sprint Corporation, and decommissioned the Nextel iDEN network

Why Was NEXTEL So Popular?

Nextel gained popularity due to its signature Direct Connect feature, which enabled users to instantly communicate with a group at the push of a button, eliminating the need for dialing and waiting for a call to connect. This “Push-to-Talk” feature was invaluable to industries such as construction, transportation, and others where real-time communication was essential.

Although the brand faded, Nextel’s legacy lives on through modern PTT solutions and business communication technologies that continue to shape mobile communication.

Today’s Push-to-Talk over Cellular

HALO Nationwide
The HORIZON Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) platform provides nationwide coverage using facility Wi-Fi networks and modern 4G/5G/LTE cellular and networks.

All Hytera PTT radios are supported on the HORIZON platform. Hytera radios include lightweight handheld radios, mobile radios for vehicles, and smart devices that run business and manufacturing apps.

HORIZON features a powerful dispatching application that provides instant group calling and individual calling along with GPS location tracking of remote workers and fleet vehicle drivers.

Learn more about HORIZON Push-to-Talk over Cellular

Download the HORIZON PoC Product Family Brochure

 

Nextel is the registered trademark of T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC. All product names, logos, trademarks, and images are the property of the respective brand owners. Their use does not imply affiliation or endorsement by these companies and Hytera US Inc has no affiliation with them or Nextel.