Remember that Sprint Direct Connect Now app that leaked out back in March and is supposed to give Android devices the ability to use push-to-talk without actually having PTT hardware? Sprint just confirmed the app's existence during a Network Vision event at CTIA, explaining that the app will help to expand its PTT portfolio without actually requiring manufacturers to build PTT-specific devices. The calling performance of the app is said to be similar to that of embedded devices, and Sprint expects it to be fully interoperable with dedicated Direct Connect PTT devices and iDEN PTT devices. The Direct Connect Now app will be made available in Google Play, but there's no word yet on when it'll be launching.

While the Direct Connect Now app obviously isn't something that everyone will get use out of, it's still good to see Sprint putting it together. The app will give customers interested in PTT the option of using a wider selection of hardware, including devices that aren't dedicated PTT products, but still communicate with others using PTT on Direct Connect or iDEN. The promise of having more hardware options while still retaining PTT functionality is something that could help convince more customers to move off of the iDEN network and onto the Sprint Direct Connect service, something that I'm sure Hesse and Co. would like to see. Any of you PTT-ers out there interested in giving the Direct Connect Now app a go?

Via The Verge