A push-to-talk (PTT) mobile station having a PTT ready mode, the mobile station having a controller adapted for executing computer program code; a memory connected to the controller for storing computer program code; computer program code stored in the memory and executable by the controller for operating the mobile station in the PTT ready mode selected from a plurality of PTT ready mode techniques, for establishing a PTT session; and a radio subsystem connected to the controller and the memory, the subsystem being configured for enabling the PTT mobile station to operate in the PTT ready mode for establishing one of the PTT session, PTT traffic, or both the PTT session and PTT traffic.