DIRECT CONNECT HINTS

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Different Nextel Phones work differently.  This section covers menu hints that work with the Nextel phones that we have tried.

WHAT IT IS

Direct Connect, or DC, by Nextel is a fast means of contacting another Nextel user for very quick information transfer.  It is a "two-way" service, meaning that only one person can talk at one time by pressing a push-to-talk button.  When that person is done talking - and releases the button - the other person can respond.

ADVANTAGES

For quick communications it is superb.  It gives direct contact to a person you wish to communicate with without a long phone call and the usual delays associated with phone calls.  Some usage has indicated for example that while the average cell phone connect time might be 2.5 minutes, that the average direct connect conversation is more similar to half a minute - 5 times less time.  Of course part of that gain is that people who use Direct Connect generally are interested in quick transfer of just a few items of information, such as "where are you?" or "are you done and free now"? or "you need to stop here on your way back" or something similar.  It can be great time saver for business use.  Many of us also find it quick for family usage as well.

Setup Ahead of Time

We do strongly suggest finding the direct contact numbers for those you might wish to DC to, and then enter them in your cell phone address book.  This will make contact much easier in the future when you might need it.

Fast and Obvious

(if you need more quiet operation, see those sections below)

If communications is important and we need not worry about surrounding people, the fastest method is to just use the push to talk button (large button often on the lower left hand side of your cell phone) to contact another Nextel User on their direct connect access number and say a few words at the same time.   This method is generally used with the cell phone speaker active.  You may wish to look at the speaker icon and ensure that the speaker is on.  When off, the speaker will have a slash through it.  Pressing a top button on the cell phone left may toggle the speaker on and off.

When done with the brief contact and introduction, release the push to talk button to allow the other person to talk.  Remember to wait for the signal on your speaker that the line is ready for you to begin talking.  If you try to talk at the same time as the other and press the button, a sound will be given to indicate the line is in use.

A Quieter Means of Direct Connect Contact

If you are not sure where the other party is, you might wish to be quieter in contacting them to ensure that others are disturbed less.  As you look up their DC Direct Connect information in your phone address book, you can select it and then look for an alert button on your phone and press it.  Then when you press the push to talk button on the side, a quieter alert goes out to the direct connect user.

A Quieter Means of Direct Connect Conversation

You need not use the Nextel cell phone large speaker for direct connect calls.  If you switch the speaker off - likely by pressing a button on your cell phone top left that will cause the speaker to have a slash through it - you can use the normal phone microphone and speaker as you would for a normal cell phone call.  This method is often quieter if you are in a restaurant or other public place and you wish to disturb people the least.

A Quick Means of Finding a previous called DC contact
(for fast and obvious connection usage only)

As we have mentioned above, one of the buttons on the top of your phone might be for turning the external speaker of your Nextel Phone on and off.  If so, you can tell if the speaker is off when there is a slash through the speaker icon.

Your phone, however, may have another top button - usually on the top right as the phone faces you.  That top button may select a menu of recently called numbers.  If so, and you press it, you can use the cell phone volume buttons on the cell phone side to select different recent calls.  Select the DC contact that you are looking for - if it is there - and then press the direct connect push-to talk button to connect to them quickly.

Okay?

If you have reached this point then hopefully you are using menus well.  If not, and you are an About Wireless customer who had a new cell phone activation in our store, contact us and we will try and help.

© About Wireless, Inc.