In Smart Nations, such as Singapore, where communication infrastructures are well developed, businesses can depend upon fast and efficient communications of information and instructions.
The smartphone is the most commonly carried portable communication device in the world today. As smart phones becomes more advanced and powerful, they come with a plethora of applications (web browsing, gaming, gps enabled apps, etc.), which make them indispensable, both for working and for pleasure. Despite the advancement of smart phones and their popularity, the traditional push-to-talk (PTT) walkie talkies still thrives in its own areas a business and pleasure communication tool.
The two main advantages that walkie talkie communications has over the mobile phone calls are instant connectivity and group communications.
Instant Connectivity –
At a press of a button, walkie talkie communications offer instant connectivity whereas when making a phone call, a user has to key in the phone numbers, wait for the ring tone and for the called party to answer before communicating. Under critical situations, walkie talkie communications is the prefer mode where the speed of connectivity is of utmost importance.
Group Communication –
In a situation where instant group communication is necessary, walkie talkie communication triumph over mobile phone calls. At a press of a button, a walkie talkie caller can instantly communicate with a group of or groups of users. In the case of a mobile phone, the caller has to call each individual user separately to convey the same message.
Some businesses and agencies, such as construction, security, transportation, police, events & conventions, and oil refineries, comprise executives who carry smart phones and who are mainly in the office and on-site workers who depend upon the walkie talkies as their main communication tools. In order for the two groups of users to communicate, either the executives would have to use a walkie talkie or the walkie talkie users would have to make a phone call to the executive. When the executive is oversea, he or she would also not have communication capabilities via a walkie talkie.
Walkie Talkie Apps –
Walkie Talkie apps, such as GRID’s MOTOTALK enable smart phones to have push-to-talk functionalities that are similar to those of a walkie talkie. Some walkie talkie apps, through the use of a gateway, are able to interoperate with the walkie talkie system as well. This means, smartphone users can have walkie talkie communications with other walkie talkie users using their smart phones.
An advantage smart phones has is the extensive mobile data and WiFi coverage, especially in smart nations, around the world.This means walkie talkie app users can stay in-touch with walkie talkie users even while they are overseas, which is a benefit for businesses in terms of productivity.
Some features of MOTOTALK and other walkie talkie apps are group voice call, personal 1-to-1 call, instant messaging, presence status, and tracking capabilities.
In Summary –
As technology advances rapidly in smart nations, the Smartphone has become an indispensable communication tool with countless applications possible. By installing a walkie talkie app, the smartphone can be transformed into a push-to-talk device to expand its communication capabilities. As smart nations’ mobile data and WiFi networks are very well covered, it makes sense to stay ahead of the competition by having smart phones that have walkie talkie capabilities as well.