Sprint Nextel Corp. will expand its new push-to-talk service, which complements the older push-to-talk service on Nextel phones. On Sunday, Sprint will start selling four handsets that can use the new Nextel Direct Connect service in 45 new markets, in addition to Kansas and Colorado, where the service launched in April on two handsets. Since buying Nextel in 2005, Sprint has faced the challenge of operating two incompatible networks. Nextel phones have a push-to-talk feature, popular among construction crews and other mobile workers, but don't work on the same network as Sprint phones.

The new Nextel Direct Connect feature works on Sprint's network, at least in the areas where the network has been upgraded to support it. That gives Sprint the option of moving Nextel subscribers to its own network.

The markets for the new service will include New York City, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The phones are from LG, Samsung and Sanyo, and cost between $49.99 and $99.99 with two-year contracts. Two models are "rugged," resistant to dust, shock and vibration.

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On the Net:

http://www.sprint.com/instantconnect

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