U.S. Push-to-Talk Services 2004 Service Provider Analysis: Pushing New Boundaries

This IDC study examines the opportunities for, threats to, and challenges for P2T services. Specifically, it analyzes how these services have performed in the market one year after the first non-iDEN network-based P2T application was introduced in the United States, and how other carriers and application service providers (ASPs) are leveraging the application as part of larger business offerings and application portfolios.

"In 2003, Nextel's $69 average revenue per user (ARPU) represented a 24% premium over the U.S. industry average. This price premium, along with its high percentage of business-liable customers, has made Nextel's position one of the most envied in wireless. To date, this carrier's most recognizable differentiator and, according to many, the primary reason for this price premium has been its ability to provide push-to-talk (P2T) services to its customer base." said Keith Waryas, research manager for IDC's Wireless Business Network Services program. "However, one year after other carriers introduced P2T services to their customers, it has become clear that these offerings have done little to erode Nextel's share of the market or its position in the industry. However, if a carrier can get the technical implementation of the P2T application correct, there is clearly a wide, mass-market opportunity for these services. And, going forward, these opportunities will multiply if operators can manage to integrate P2x capabilities into other applications, both at the consumer as well as business and business process levels."