> The iDen network is basically analog, You mean the Integrated Digital Enhanced Network is analog, wait what? The actual problem why noone has come up with a

> The iDen network is basically analog, You mean the Integrated Digital Enhanced Network is analog, wait what? The actual problem why noone has come up with a solid way to support PTT on cell phones other than iDEN phones is because iDEN is a rare breed of radio system called a Cellular Trunked Radio System, it was designed to provide a trunked radio system that could scale to large footprints. Unfortunately it never caught on with anyone but Nextel and a few other providers, most likely because of the need to totally replace other systems. Project 25 did not have this issue because agencies could gradually transition from analog conventional and analog trunked systems to digital Project 25 trunked radio systems or hybrids thereof. So, iDEN was intended to primarily support trunked radio like features, Direct Connect and Group Connect are two of those, several bolt on upgrades later provided us with Nationwide Direct Connect and Nationwide Group Connect. This is why it performs so well at those (infact, from what I have seen, outperforming existing trunked radio systems).