That's the appeal of this new DirectTalk service--it's not infrastructure-dependent. DirectConnect is network-dependent, so perhaps that is what you're thinking of.

If the person you want to contact has a compatible phone and is within DirectTalk range, even if phone lines are damaged, cell towers run out of battery backup, you're out of range of a cell tower out in the countryside, etc., you can still contact the person directly, simplex, if I may appropriate some HAM lingo. (I'm not a HAM btw).

For most people, particularly as EDC, it's nice to just carry a phone and get this added capability instead of needing to carry a phone *plus* an FRS/GMRS radio, amateur HT, etc. to have a network-independent way of reaching someone.

For relatively short range use, it seems like a nice option to have. Just wondering if anyone's used it in the real world yet.