Al,
Nextel boasts direct connect and dispatch, that is the only difference between PCS cellular and the Nextel system. I think that PCS already has direct connect and dispatch capibility, however, it ties up too much space and resources for it to be used.
I think there was a news about Bel Atlantic (or was it Lucent) testing some kind of workgroup calling, and it was some time ago, maybe a year. But I have not heard anything about it since then. There was a news about Ericson developing it as well.
I don't think anyone is publicly offering this capability. Maybe they think Nextel is too entrenched in this market, and they direct their technology and marketing dollars elsewhere.
Bel Atlantic does have unlimited mobile to mobile, to compete with Nextel's unlimited private Direct Connect. Sprint is supposed to introduce unlimited mobile to mobile in early part of this year.
Actually, I thought about canceling our wireline lines and connecting 20 or so wireless modems to our phone system, but I don't think it would work. <g>
Maybe sometimes in the future, when IP takes over telephony, we can just connect over TCP/IP to a wireless modem, and feed the connection to an IP PBX phone system.
Joe |
