TRUTH IS, the great scientific discoveries as well as the discoveries of the great explorers are just that: discoveries
of what has always been there. Neither Columbus nor the Vikings, for that matter, created the New World; they just found it.
One could argue that the cure for polio and other medical breakthroughs come under the same heading: scientists discovering
what exists in nature that works against a certain disease. Certainly high-tech innovation pales in comparison, but it is
also a way of putting to use what has always existed.
Why do I bring this up? Well, because I've discovered the killer app for cell phones!
A Bethesda, Md.-based company called Nextel Communications -- you may have heard of it -- has this technology called Direct
Connect. Basically, it is a walkie-talkie on steroids. Each Nextel handset user can set up a list of buddies or co-workers,
bring up the list, push a button, and the person on the other end gets notified so-and-so is calling. The call recipient pushes
the button, and now the two are talking, over Motorola's radio network, iDEN, without incurring per-minute or per-kilobyte
charges.
Contractors have been using the service for years. And you may have read that post-Sept.11, the Nextel phones were the only
telecom devices that worked in lower Manhattan.
In June, Nextel will go national with the service. What that means is, if you work at a company with offices around the
country, you'll be able to push the direct-connect button and connect to anyone else on your service. You'll even be able
to create groups of people and hold a 10-way conversation if you like.
I realize some may want to credit Nextel with this discovery or even Motorola. But Nextel and Motorola's iDEN, like the
New World, had been out there for an awfully long time without getting much notice. So, I herewith claim the right of discovery.
I also say that unless Verizon, Sprint, and the others can quickly duplicate the technology used by Nextel, push-to-talk will
become a must-have for thousands of different types of businesses and millions of users. By the way, Nextel will launch a
huge consumer campaign in 2003 when the service goes national.
I spoke with James Mooney, COO of Nextel, and he agrees with me. Mooney says the company will ram this service down the
throat of its competitors who will be helpless to defend themselves.
Prices for Nextel handsets run the gamut from $50 to $400 and service plans start at about $39 per month for 400 minutes.
All phones and all plans include direct connect. As my younger friends say, "Cool."
Just for the record, I own no stock in Nextel nor does anyone in my family. I say this because I received some outraged
e-mails following a previous column about Whereify, claiming I must own stock in that company. I do not.
Well, I think a nice statue of myself with a visionary look in my eye and a cell phone in my hand would be appropriate.
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