AT&T Takes Aim at Sprint’s Remaining Nextel Customers

With Sprint having announced plans to shut down its Nextel network, rivals are smelling blood.

Sprint, of course, aims to convert as many of its Nextel customers over to its own push-to-talk services as it can. But AT&T says it hopes to woo on the order of 10 percent of the remaining customers over to its own push-to-talk products.

AT&T, which launched the Rugby Pro in September, and is announcing several new rugged devices on Tuesday, notes that its push-to-talk service, unlike its rivals, works on its latest-generation LTE network.

The company offers its enhanced push-to-talk service for $5 per month in addition to other rate plans, or $30 for only push-to-talk service.

“For workers in industries like construction, manufacturing and public safety, mobile devices that can withstand harsh conditions are essential,” AT&T senior vice president Chris Hill said in a statement. “We’re offering AT&T Enhanced PTT on a variety of rugged devices to give our customers the performance and durability they need to get in touch quickly on the job — no matter what conditions they face.”