A combination of leaked press images for the unexpectedly popular Palm Centro featuring Verizon branding and an information slide regarding two competitors to Sprint’s new Direct Connect service have surfaced. Hit the Read More link for all of the details.
Update: We have posted a new article clarifying the current situation regarding QChat.
The Palm Centro has become a surprise hit for the venerable but struggling smart device developer, with versions on AT&T and Sprint quickly becoming some of the most popular devices in terms of sales, due to its complete feature set and surprisingly low entry price for a smart device.
Image courtesy of Engadget Mobile
The above image shows Verizon branding on the device, which correlates speculation that the device is expected at the end month of May and is expected to be identical to the version available on Sprint with EVDO, 1.3 megapixel camera, speakerphone, media player, Bluetooth, and microSD expansion slot. The new blue color was launched at the beginning of the month on Mexican GSM carriers Telefonica Movistar and Telcel, and Palm currently has not confirmed any information in regards to the pending release.
Verizon is also solidifying plans to offer a competing QChat based push to talk service to answer Sprint’s current dominance and leadership of the push to talk market.
The first two devices from Verizon featuring Qualcomm’s QChat push to talk solution are expected to launch sometime next month. QChat relies on the EVDO Rev. A data service in order to deliver sub one sceond connection times.
There has been some confusion on whether Verizon could even deploy QChat, with the platform having roots in joint Nextel/Qualcomm development in 2003, owing to the former carrier’s preliminary decision to overlay CDMA EVDO access on top of iDEN in order to transition to CDMA. Nextel was eventually purchased by Sprint resulting in finalized development of the platform.
While Sprint does have exclusivity rights regarding interoperability between Sprint CDMA and iDEN devices, the platform itself is owned by Qualcomm and any CDMA carrier interested is allowed to purchase and license QChat for use on their network as an alternative to PoC based solutions provided by Kodiak, Winphoria, and others.
Verizon had previously deployed push to talk services using the Winhoria push to talk platform which relied on the slower 1xRTT NationalAccess network, and was panned for slow connection times, despite having national ad campaigns touting instant access, forcing them to reevaluate the marketability of such services.
Verizon still continues to offer push to talk services on the old platform, even relaunching phones with the capability, but the Motorola W750 and the Casio c711 signal a shift away from the old platform onto QChat.
Both phones are expected to feature EVDO Rev. A access, large amounts of user accessible memory (128 MB for the c711, 256 MB for the W750), tethering capability, GPS access with workforce management solutions, media players (a first for a Casio phone on Verizon), digital cameras of an as yet unknown resolution, Bluetooth, and speakerphone.
Couldn’t sprint just have outright purchased this technology, or tried to negotiate an exclusitivity agreement for the tech? What will really diffrientiate sprint from their competitors at this point?
the difference is seen where it states “Sprint does have exclusivity rights regarding interoperability between Sprint CDMA and iDEN devices”.
This explains that, basically, the majority (by large) of the people with current PTT service are on Sprint (nextel) and to “beep” them, you have to use Sprint to do it.
Verizon will do well in having this much greater service for their PTT customers, but in my opinion, it will not effect Sprint at all. Most that tried Verizons first PTT service were unhappy at best, and a lot switched to, or back to Nextel for the faster Direct Connect, and with the large amount of customers relying on DC for business and personal use, i’m not envisioning them going back to verizon so they can loose that access to their business partners and friends. Plus, wih VZW it will most likely be at an additional cost for customers, while Sprint continues to offer its DC service without cost (if on a hybrid or nextel plan)
I just don’t see this being a big thing for Verizon. PTT was a cool thing a couple of years ago but it never really took off as much as the Verizon/AT&T wanted. I bet that Verizon will just use it to offer the functionality to businesses that are growing tired of the Sprint service.
So if I’m understanding this correctly, (and I know that Verizon wouldn’t be able to interact with the iDen side) but Verizon and Sprint QChat will not be able to communicate. This is a major hold up on the whole PTT becoming more popular. Whats the point if I can’t talk to someone else with another carrier. There should be a way for them to interoperate with the new QChat system
QChat can be interoperable across carriers, but the draw to do so depends solely on the carriers and manufacturers to implement Same Number access, where a user can dial the standard phone number of another QChat user and initiate a PTT call, instead of depending on a custom number for PTT access. So far I’ve only seen Sprint implement this on their deployment of QChat.
sprint can still differentiate but this is totally out of left field…I expected PTT devices and even new advanced PTT from VZW but not Qchat which I thought was partly owned by Sprint…
But I can say that VZW / ATT have a reason to try to exploit sprint and snag up as much business as possible right now. Look at the churn #’s and look at what exploiting us is doing for them right now….they are gaining more customers than ever because its the only way to get new ads. there are more cell phones in circulation than dvd players and cars.. so if you can win customers over its worth every penny….you just have to keep them after that
Carrier interoperability of services is always great for consumers who want a choice. So far, voice, SMS and MMS work between carriers.
For customers on the fence who love their iDEN PTT functionality but hate Sprint, having a service available on another carrier that will work with other Nextel users would be great.
On the other hand if Sprint allows interoperability of service between their customer base and competitors, it could be another major blow waiting to happen. But then again, that might be the plan all along. Maybe they can correct some wrongs by selling their iDEN customer base to a carrier better equipped to take care of them?
The article is incorrect. VZ is deploying a competior to Qchat, not Qchat. Qchat is exclusive to Sprint Nextel. VZ with several vendors is developing and deploying a competing technology that also provides PTT on EVDO Rev A. Very poor reporting.
The only proprietary thing that Sprint has on Qchat is iDen-CDMA interoperability. Verizon is using QChat over EVDO rA. It is owned by Qualcomm and licensed to whomever pays the rights. just like their chipsets, i.e., Verizon.
this is the first report i’ve seen that verizon will use qchat proper… up until now it was my understanding that verizon was looking into a qchat competitor or something similar to qchat. i don’t suppose anyone has any substantive evidence or a link to backup either one or the other?
Sprint has exclusivity on qChat on CDMA and iDEN. The author incorrectly used the term “qChat” to describe Verizon’s PTT.
I think the term QChat is appropriate. While it may be sold under the old BREWChat name, Qualcomm appears to be using QChat technology in a “BREWChat 2.0”
So, no error, just trying not to confuse. We still don’t know what Qualcomm will bill the final platform as.
I wonder if VZ Navigator will be available at launch with their new Blue Centro?
It’s not likely, in fact, I’ll go out on a limb here and say it’s not going to happen.
I sat down with Networks In Motion at CTIA (the company behind VZ Navigator), and they said that a Garnet client wasn’t on their radar. The carriers just weren’t as interested as getting a Windows Mobile client done.
This is coming out in May, Sprint’s national launch is June. Am I the only one that sees a problem with this. Sprint better bring out all of them at the same time, wish the Pro 800 and 900 would be included
[…] used in Sprint’s new Direct Connect platform, is exclusively theirs. PhoneNews.com referred to Verizon’s new, upcoming PTT platform as QChat, because of the underlying technology being […]
This is not good for Sprint at all
[…] we previously reported, the W750 is expected to launch this month with EVDO Rev. A access, GPS access, media player, 128 […]
[…] since the Motorola V750 was first leaked in the form of an internal information slide detailing Verizon’s new Push-to Talk service, […]
I am looking to purchase a Verizon smartphone soon. Any word on an update as to when the Centro is being released? Also, any pricing updates?
THANKS!
Spoke with a sales guy at the local Verizon Store here in Portland, OR and he says they have received the “dummy” display models for the Centro. But he didn’t have a release date for them.
Also, if you search the Verizon Wireless site for “Centro” it will come up with a bunch of centro-centric accessories (batteries, chargers, etc.)
[…] Casio c711 clamshell we previously covered is now known as the Casio Boulder and will feature a Mil-Spec bodyshell along with EVDO Rev. A […]
I have used both systems and here are the differences:
#1. The aforementioned interoperability between QChat and iDEN.
#2. Speed. QChat is almost instant (less than a second, while BREWChat is well over one second in initial latency).
#3. BREWChat will work over a dial-up or REV.0 connection, while QChat only works in REV.A areas.
#4. The ability to have one number for PTT and cellular or two numbers with QChat. You can port your old Nextel number over. Even if you opt for one number for both, QChat has PTT call forwarding. In other words, people who beep your old Nextel number still get through to you.