Kenrick Josephs, Reporter/Web Coordinator

Two of Jamaica's telecommunication conglomerates have introduced the poplar push-button communication feature from a cellular phone, a service quite popular in the United States.

MiPhone, with their Push2Talk and Cable Wireless's PushTalk have broken into a new way of consumer communication.

The service enables customers who buy the plan to have a two-way radio setting along with cellular phone features rolled into one device, enhancing communication and convenience.

"It is a two-way radio and a cellular phone in one. After setting up the service, you pay a monthly fee and talk to people you have added," said Helen Allison-Minott, PR specialist of MiPhone. "It is like an instant messenger where you add people to your contact list and you can talk to them."

Allison-Minott continued: "With the cellular side of it, all you have to do is purchase the regular pre-paid cards and use. We have different plans depending on the organisation or the needs of the customer."

The features allow communication from anywhere across the island, unlike the ongoing signal-seeking battle faced when using cellular phones.

Jack Magnusen of Clarity Communications Systems Inc., located in the U.S. (providers to MiPhone), says he sees where the touch-button feature is most appropriate for medium and small business customers, as well as consumers.

SECURITY

As for conversation security, Noel Esty, MiPhone's Push2Talk product development specialist, says his organisation holds the reigns on that. "CDMA is by far more secure. We use code division where we code each conversation, so even if there is crosstalk, you won't understand the conversation. You would hear random noise instead of words," he said.

"Not only secure - we have tremendous capabilities due to working with VeriSign for a while - but CDMA does work very well from a quality-of-voice perspective which push-to-talk & GSM don't," said Magnusen.

Michael Russell said he bought his handset because it was a big hit in the U.S. and it seemed like a "cool" feature. "I just loved the fact of having a walkie-talkie cellphone. It has come in convenient though, as I use it as a substitute to the VIP plan Digicel offers," he said. "The phone is a bit ugly though, but when it is not in use, I have it in my pocket."

Sean Miller, a 28-year old entrepreneur, says his business benefits from using the device. He can stay in contact with his staff and have a group chat where everyone is on at the same time, having one discussion. "The cost of a cellphone call is prohibitive, so people will think twice before calling you too often, but with the walkie-talkie, they can become 'annoying' and talk to you whenever they need to."