Image exchange for image-based push-to-talk user interface

A visual interface for a PTT user terminal displays user images of participants in a PTT conference. When a PTT conference is established, a controller determines whether an image associated with each participant invited to the PTT conference is stored in memory on the user terminal. For each participant that has an associated image stored on the user terminal, the controller displays the image. For those participants that do not have an associated image stored on the user terminal, the controller generates and sends a request for the image. Upon receipt of the image, the controller displays the image on the user terminal. During the PTT conference, the controller alters the appearance of the images to show the status information of each participant, such as which participant has floor control and presence of participants.