Hutch launches Push2Talk in Gujarat

Hutchison Essar today launched Push2Talk, a service that combines a walkie-talkie experience with instant messaging, short messaging service (SMS), multi-media messaging service (MMS) and voice messaging in Gujarat today.

Push2Talk is the result of a partnership between Hutch and international technology partner Fastmobile, and will be available to all Hutch and Orange users and is the first such service to be available nationally, said Asim Ghosh, director, Hutchison Essar.

According to Ghosh, Push2Talk further expands the utility of the mobile phone. It opens up a new channel of communication. Push2Talk benefits the value-conscious consumer as much as the enterprise user. It is unique since it uses existing infrastructure to deliver a unique, new user experience.

Adam Sewall, senior vice president, Fastmobile, said: "Bringing fastchat to one of the world's fastest growing mobile phone market represents a significant step for the company. We're very pleased to achieve this milestone with our partner Hutchison Essar.."

The push2talk service was first introduced in the US last year by Nextel Communications. Since then, mobile operators have been vying to launch Push2Talk services in other international markets.