an apparatus and method for providing rapid talk burst control for a push to talk over cellular client engaged in a poc communication with another poc client through a poc server . when a first poc client completes a talk burst , the poc server consults a communication pattern model to predict which poc client is the predicted next talker . the poc server then sends a tb pre - granted message to the predicted next talker , pre - granting ’, permission to talk before the predicted next talker requests permission to talk . when the predicted next talker presses the push to talk button on his client handset , he immediately has the right to talk without any further signaling with the poc server . if an unpradicted user requests permission to talk , the pre - granted permission is revoked , and the unpredicted user is granted permission .