Its most iconic feature was the signature beep sound (or "chirp") that preceded instant communication at the push of a button.

Data capabilities were described as slower than 1990s dial-up internet.

Handsets like the Motorola i605 were praised for being "rugged" and "shockproof".

By the late 2000s, reviews became increasingly negative as the merger with Sprint caused service integration issues:

Nextel was a wireless carrier famously known for its "push-to-talk" (PTT) service, which functioned like a nationwide walkie-talkie. While the original Nextel network was shut down in June 2013 following its merger with Sprint, reviews of its legacy service and impact are summarized below: Legacy Service Overview