As the Push-to-talk over cellular market continues to grow, we are here to help educate on what exactly it is and how you can organically migrate from using walkie talkies to smart devices that that offer P.O.C.

For starters, let’s define Push-to-Talk over Cellular (POC) - PoC is a wireless two-way cellular communication allowing instant and global mobile connectivity with the ability to communicate at the push of a key. Using smart devices, you choose a push-to-talk (we call it PTT) application, and that app turns your device into a 2-way radio.

Many device manufacturers like Sonim, Samsung, Kyocera, Cat, are on board with this concept and have added a physical button on the side of their smartphones, like a walkie talkie has.

How do you get started with using POC?

POC is not quite an all-in-one solution, it utilizes a variety of products that require you to make choices. You have the opportunity to choose whatever smart device has the features and form factor you think best, then download an application that turns that device into a global walkie-talkie, using mobile phone cellular repeaters.

Some key device manufactures include Samsung, Sonim, CAT, Kyocera and others.

For applications, you have options like Microsoft Teams, Zello, ESChat, Kodiak, Tassta, and more.

Once you have chosen the device and application that best fit you and your team’s needs, you can accessorize. This is where Klein Electronics comes in with accessories such as multi chargers, cases, headsets, earpieces and RSMs. Our audio accessories are specifically designed to accommodate the push-to-talk feature, this is done using microcontrollers on the PCB of the accessory.

Each one of our headsets requires firmware specific to the device, as well as the application, in order to activate the device to trigger the application, and perform the function of PTT clearly, and without latency. At Klein, we currently offer an extensive line of audio accessories that are built with the same quality and rugged durability that our two-way radio users have relied on for 30 years. We translated this product scope into what are now “smart” accessories, able to work in tandem with these devices and applications perfectly, and in unison as an OEM.

Why would you change from legacy two-way radios to POC?

For many decades, groups have relied on two-way radios, also called walkie talkies because they are low cost, reliable, and readily available. However, according to GLOBAL NEWS WIRE, the TAM (total available market) is predicted to touch 5.26 billion US dollars by 2026 at an annual growth rate of 11.7%. That is 40 million two-way radio users. While on the other hand, the overall PTT Market size was estimated in 2020 at 29 billion US, and expected to reach 32 billion by next year, with a CAGR of 10%.

COVID initially decreased usage of push-to-talk over cellular by closing many of the hospitality, school, and restaurant industries, but has since caused it to explode due to mandates for safe distancing and mask wearing that decrease the ability to communicate without devices.

This study was conducted across commercial, construction, energy, utilities, government, manufacturing, public safety, transportation and logistics, travel, and hospitality.

Who uses POC?

POC is used by the same industries that rely on two-way radios to communicate. However, POC offers unique benefits that walkie talkies do not, such as bar code scanning, inventory tracking and more. As an example, one of our customers, River Island, recently went through the transition.

With 250 stores in the UK and Ireland, River Island contacted an integrator, JADE SOLUTIONS, to analyze their internal worker communications and offer a solution. River Island was using thousands of radios, as well as a myriad of other devices, like Zebra. This company then began the testing process to bring P.O.C. into their communication system, among those tested for the solution was the mix of Samsung phones, Microsoft Teams PTT application, and Klein PTT Earpiece headsets.

Klein’s product team worked diligently with Jade Solutions and Microsoft Teams to ensure assimilation into their SOTI MDM Software, ensuring the solution was viable, seamless, and future proof. A two-phase pilot was rolled out over many months comparing various solutions, and the decision was finally made to end-of-life all devices in favor of rolling out the Samsung/ Teams / Klein solution for all employees across all locations. River Island purchased and deployed 3,500 devices.

This enabled them to design custom staff and management groups to communicate with locally, as well as regionally. Their employees now have the enhanced capabilities of voice communication, as well as inventory data, cost checking, product demonstration and comparison, as well as internal problem solving with image taking and barcode usage. Using a smart device paired with enhanced voice capabilities brought River Island into the future and made the customer experience easy, fast, and fun. Workers enjoy the all-in-one capabilities while using a familiar earpiece with a large PTT button, making the learning curve zero. If you’d like to learn more about this customer story and integrating Samsung, Microsoft Teams PTT Application and Klein Earpieces into your communication system, watch our webinar here.

The bottom line?

To organically migrate from radios to POC, users must have commercial grade devices and peripherals that mimic their current communication products. Along with professional applications, the bundling of accessories and devices is essential to reduce purchasing confusion and enhance adoption. That is what we offer! For more information on POC or to start the conversation about transitioning, contact us today!