A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing push-to-talk communications. Different types of PTT calls with a variety of protocol configurations are supported with the use of PTT Type and Protocol Type fields in a call set up control message. When a push-to-media indicator in a call set up request message is detected in a radio access network in a communications system, the packet is directed to a push-to-media gateway in a packet data network in the communications system. The push-to-media packet is processed using the push-to-media gateway to manage the push-to-media call. This directing of the packet reduces the latency in managing a push-to-media call.