European operators that want to offer their enterprise customers PTT (push-to-talk) services can turn to Ericsson and Kodiak Networks, which have launched a hosted platform they can use.
The platform is already available in the U.S. and users can communicate with it through Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile smartphones and Windows-based PCs, according to Kodiak. Ericsson hosts the underlying platform provided by Kodiak in its European data center and operates it via the company's Global Service Center in Romania.
The latest version of the platform has features such as real-time presence, a Web-based administration tool, and voice and signaling encryption using 256-bit AES encryption. A call can be set up in less than a second, the two companies promised.
The presence feature works in the same way as a normal instant messaging client. If the indicator next to a person's name is green, he or she is available to talk. If the indicator is red, then that person is busy. However, a "call me" alert can be sent even when a PTT user's presence is red.
Organizations with mobile workforces -- in sectors such as construction, hospitality, security, oil and gas, utilities, manufacturing, field services, education and transportation -- can benefit from the speed, cost and convenience of PTT, according to Ericsson.
Kodiak's technology works over LTE, 3G and Wi-Fi networks. The addition of Wi-Fi can be used to improve in-building coverage where mobile networks don't reach and also help reduce international communications costs, according to Kodiak. The use of Wi-Fi only devices opens the door for cutting costs even further, it said.
Kodiak's current list of customers includes AT&T, Bell Canada, and Telefónica.
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