Apple now requires every push-to-talk app on iPhone to use their PTT Framework. This isn't a Tango Tango design decision — it's an Apple requirement we can't opt out of. Previously, PTT apps (ours included) relied on workarounds built on top of Apple's phone-call system. The new framework gives PTT true system-level support on iOS.
What's better in 4.0
- Improved audio quality. Many of you have asked for louder, clearer audio on iPhone for years. The PTT Framework delivers it.
- Talk from the lock screen. Send and receive without unlocking your phone.
- Reply from any app. Looking at a map, reading a text? Use quick reply to respond to your last traffic and get right back to what you were doing.
- Know who's calling before switching apps. Sender and channel show up without bringing Tango Tango to the foreground.
- Clearer "running" indicator. On iPhones with a Dynamic Island, Tango Tango appears there when backgrounded. Other iPhones show a blue indicator at the top. Tap either to open the heads-up display.
A note on that indicator: some of you may not like seeing the PTT indicator always visible at the top of your screen when the app is backgrounded. Apple requires this for any app using the PTT Framework — it's a privacy and battery transparency rule to ensure that you know an app is active in the background. We can't hide it.
Two more things your teams need to know
1. Don't tap the red "Leave" button on the lock screen. After enabling the new PTT Framework, when Tango Tango is active in the background on the lock screen, you'll see the lock screen shows a blue Talk button and a red Leave button. Tapping the Leave button disconnects you from Tango Tango entirely — you'll stop receiving traffic until you reopen the app. To dismiss the lock screen view without disconnecting, swipe up instead. If you want to prevent any further radio traffic, open the app and tap Do Not Disturb instead of "Leaving" a call at the iOS system level.
2. Blue indicator at top of screen allows you to respond quickly. While your phone is locked or while the Tango Tango app is off-screen, you'll see a blue indicator at the top of your screen. If you tap this, you'll see controls and be able to hold an on-screen PTT button to talk on Tango Tango from anywhere in your iPhone. If you do this while in your lock screen, you'll see the red "Leave" and blue "Talk" buttons mentioned in bullet #1. If you do this while your phone is unlocked, you'll see a heads-up display come down and a blue "Talk" button at the top of your screen. In both cases, you can hold that blue "Talk" button to PTT from anywhere.
If you've already updated to 4.0
Open the app, go to the More tab, and make sure Background Services is on. That ensures you still receive traffic while the app is backgrounded. For the sake of clarity: what is called Background Services in Version 4.0 is the same feature that was previously called iOS PTT Support under Settings (as described above).
Rolling this out across your agency?
Share this with your team before Tuesday so you don't run into surprises during this one Apple-driven upgrade. Especially share this if you rely on Tango Tango for tone outs overnight when users are most likely to get a surprise app update from Apple.
If you want help planning the rollout, reach out to your Tango Tango contact.
Questions? Email support@tangotango.net or call 1-888-826-4607.
