Home
Site Map
SMS Forums

© Kify.com





 
MMS - Multimedia Messaging Service

What is MMS?

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is a store and forward messaging service that allows mobile subscribers to exchange multimedia messages with other mobile subscribers. As such it can be seen as an evolution of SMS, with MMS supporting the transmission of additional media types:

  • text
     
  • picture
     
  • audio
     
  • video
     
  • combinations of the above

Multimedia Messaging System (MMS) is the logical evolution of the Short Message Service SMS, a text-only messaging system for mobile networks. MMS-enabled mobile phones enable subscribers to compose and send messages with one or more multimedia (digital photos, audio, video) parts. Mobile phones with built-in or attached cameras, or with built-in MP3 players are very likely to also have an MMS messaging client -- a software program that interacts with the mobile subscriber to compose, address, send, receive, and view MMS messages.

The MMS data flow starts with a subscriber using an MMS client on the mobile phone to compose, address, and send an MMS message to one or more recipients. MMS addresses can be either E.164 phone numbers (e.g., "+18005551212") or RFC 2822 e-mail addresses (e.g., "you@yourdomain.com").

The initial submission by an MMS client to the home MMSC (MMS Center) is accomplished using HTTP with specialized commands and encodings (which are defined in a technical standard specified by the Open Mobile Alliance (http://www.openmobilealliance.com)). Upon reception of the MMS message, the recipient MMSC (MMS Center) sends a notification to the recipient's mobile phone using either an SMS notification or WAP Push.

There are two modes of delivery in MMS: immediate or deferred:

immediate delivery: When the MMS client on the mobile phone receives the MMS notification, it then immediately (without user intervention or knowledge) retrieves the MMS message from the MMSC that sent the notification. After retrieval, the subscriber is alerted to the presence of a newly arrived MMS message.
deferred delivery: The MMS client alerts the subscriber that an MMS message is available, and allows the subscriber to choose if and when to retrieve the MMS message. As with the MMS submission, the MMS retrieval request, whether immediate or deferred, occurs with an HTTP request. The MMSC responds by transmitting the MMS message in an HTTP response to the MMS client, after which the subscriber is finally alerted that the MMS message is available.
The essential difference between immediate and deferred delivery is that the former hides the network latencies from the subscriber, while the latter does not.

There are some interesting challenges with MMS that do not exist with SMS:

content adaptation: multimedia content created by one brand of MMS phone may not be entirely compatible with the capabilities of the recipients' MMS phone. In the MMS architecture, the recipient MMSC is responsible for providing for content adaptation (e.g., image resizing, audio codec transcoding, etc.), if this feature is enabled by the mobile network operator. When content adaptation is supported by a network operator, its MMS subscribers enjoy compatibility with a larger network of MMS users than would otherwise be available.
distribution lists: current MMS specifications do not include distribution lists nor methods by which large numbers of recipients can be conveniently addressed, particularly by content providers, called Value Added Service Providers (VASPs) in 3GPP. Since most SMSC vendors have adopted FTP as an ad-hoc method by which large distribution lists are transferred to the SMSC prior to being used in a bulk-messaging SMS submission, it is expected that MMSC vendors will also likely adopt FTP similarly.
bulk messaging: The flow of peer-to-peer MMS messaging involves several over-the-air transactions that become inefficient when MMS is used to send messages to large numbers of subscribers, as is typically the case for VASPs. For example, when one MMS message is submitted to a very large number of recipients, it is possible to receive a 'delivery report' and 'read-reply report' for each and every recipient. Future MMS specification work is likely to optimize and reduce the transactional overhead for the bulk-messaging case.
MMS should not be confused with EMS, which is simply SMS with additional payload capabilities.

MMS has been deployed world-wide and across both GSM/GPRS and CDMA networks.

MMS was originally developed within the Third-Generation Partnership Program (3GPP), a standards organization focused on standards for the UMTS/GSM networks.

MMS has also been standardized within the Third-Generation Partnership Program 2 (3GPP2), a standards organization focused on specifications for the CDMA networks.

As with most 3GPP standards, the MMS standards have three stages:

Stage 1 - Requirements
Stage 2 - System Functions
Stage 3 - Technical Realizations
Both 3GPP and 3GPP2 have delegated the development of the Stage 3 Technical Realizations to OMA (http://www.openmobilealliance.com), a standards organization focused on specifications for the mobile wireless networks.

Vodafone has introduced the term "PXT" (pronounced pixt) to modern terminology in many countries, including Australia and New Zealand.
 


MMS Frequently Asked Questions

What is Multimedia Messaging?

Multimedia messaging is a next generation message service. Multimedia messaging allows a variety of message elements to be sent to a user and these can contain text, animations, photographs, sounds and in future streaming audio and video. Users can compose their own messages, receive rich content messages from content providers and forward them onto their own contacts.

When will MMS be introduced?

Some operators have already launched and many more will launch this summer (2002).

When will the consumers see this service?

Many operators are planning to launch before Christmas 2002.


Why is MMS important?

For the subscriber MMS takes messaging out of the basic text users are used to and allows them to enjoy a much better messaging - more like they are used to via email or the Internet e.g. to send a greetings card or photograph of themselves.

For network operators MMS is important as it is the basis for a wide range of next generation services that pave the way for the improved 3G bandwidth to show its use, drive demand for data bandwidth and consequently increase operator revenues.

How would MMS look like to the end users?

Some of the first phones are introducing colour so this is a substantial improvement over black & white text. Initial devices may maintain the conventional size display but allow colour or grey scale images. The main thing users will see is that the experience is much more dynamic - a snapshot album of thumbnail images, a sequence of a cartoon e.g. Dilbert, captions and sounds combined with images.

What are some examples of services on MMS?

Taking a snapshot via a camera phone and sending to a friend
Receiving cartoon strips
Composing your own animated picture messages and sending to friends
Sending audio files
Sending pictures & audio files with simultaneous playback
Advertising
Music download & play (really with 3G)
Storing pictures to an on line album
Remote surveillance

What content types does MMS support?

MMS is based on common Internet technologies currently supported on a variety of content types which would include plain text, HTML, audio in a variety of formats including an efficient new standard AMR and soon MP3, pictures as GIF, JPEG, PNG and in the future video using MPEG4

I don't have an MMS phone, can I receive / send MMS messages?

You would need to be on a network that supports MMS; steps are being taken to allow MMS's to be supported at various capabilities by non MMS phone users e.g. by converting as far as possible to WAP. There are restrictions which are things like if you only have an SMS capable phone you might have to access your MMS messages using an internet connection.

Can MMS messages be sent to an email address?

Yes, it is possible to do this - although your operator will need to support this capability

How does the user's MMS experience compare to that of SMS?

The experience is far superior especially with devices with colour displays, sound, text and picture sequences.

Are there any MMS phones available now?

The Ericsson T68i was the first phone available and we are starting to see more of these in user’s hands. Nokia have also started shipping their 7650 camera enabled MMS phone and another model is due soon. Many more models are expected.

Does MMS need 3G?

Not at all, we're advising GPRS is the minimum although it works over circuit switched GSM it is costly to run. 3G will benefit capabilities such as streaming audio / video for example downloading full MP4 video clips may take too long over GPRS.

How big can an MMS message be?

There is not a network limit but initial devices are specifying minimum support for 30k - it's really a manufacturer limit concerning the amount of memory

How fast is an MMS message from phone to phone?

It could parallel an email message - might normally appear near instantaneous but could be delayed by load on servers and by who's sending from where to where or by network outages. It is not however designed to be real time.

How does MMS compare to EMS?

EMS is delivered via SMS and this means it can be very costly and is using limited control channel capacity in a GSM network. EMS also supports picture messaging/ animation but MMS is much more capable of serving up multiple media together and also you wouldn't enjoy the experience of more complex media e.g. photographs, sound and video.

How does MMS compare to email?

It has many similarities to rich email content but delivered in a mobile friendly way. In fact MMS uses email technologies to underpin the technical capabilities. Some aspects of MMS will exceed standard email capabilities e.g. true control over sequences which conventional email doesn't handle.

How is the MMS environment different from SMS?

MMS requires network operators to install MMS Server/ Relay equipment which integrates with existing infrastructure and connects to content providers, email gateways. SMS uses a control channel whereas MMS uses the data channel.

Is anyone setting standards for MMS?

The principle standards body is 3GPP for MMS though they use work by other standards bodies such as the WAP forum to assist in certain areas. The GSM association is active in collecting operator requirements to address to 3GPP to help advance these standards.

What is the connection between MMS and WAP?

MMS capability uses many services of WAP to make it work - particularly the lower level WAP transport mechanisms which are optimised for operation over the GSM radio interface. MMS also uses WAP's push mechanism to transparently notify users of receipt of a new message.

Does MMS require network changes?

It requires additions of infrastructure components to handle the store & forward functions of MMS. MMSCs have to connect into other network components like HLRs, a network must also be WAP capable and realistically GPRS capable. And for proper service GPRS global roaming is required.

How interoperable are MMS messages across manufacturers?

At a technical level the vendor community and operators have created an interoperability group to ensure maximum reliability in inter-working. Initially there may be differences between devices which will mean that there will be situations where an MMS composed on one device is not well rendered on another and this parallels a web page for a PC not looking good on a PDA.

External Links

 

Kify Toolbar

Google
 
Web funSMS.net

Explore funSMS.net

Free SMS Most Popular SMS Info
     
SMS Services Mobile Phones WAP Services
     
SMS in Action SMS Community Technologies
     
SMS Jokes SMS Messages SMS Forums
     
US Mobile Store India Mobile Store Ringtones Shop
     
Text Messages Text Jokes Free Wallpapers
     
Useful Utilities funSMS Sitemap Contact Us

Explore Kify Network

Kify Ringtones Shop - Download Ringtones, Logos, Wallpapers, Screensavers, Picture Messages, Themes, Animated Avatars, Games, Videos. Service available in more than 50 countries.

Kify Domains - Get a new domain name, transfer or renewal for just $1.99 with each and every new, non-domain product you buy. Includes FREE Hosting, Free Quick Blog, Free Complete Email and much more!

Kify Shopping - Shopping made easy. Send gifts to India and also Globally. A one-stop online shopping mall for Mobile Phones, Jewelry, Cakes, Electronics, Apparels, Gifts, Chocolates, Flowers, Magazines, Kids Stuff, Kitchen Appliances, Cosmetics, Handicrafts, Games and much more!

Kify Web Hosting - Reliable and Affordable Web Hosting plans starting from $3.95/month (5GB Disk Space and 250GB Bandwidth).

Kify Mail - Its Free, Fast, Secure, Private, Permanent, Globally Accessible & Spam-Free.

Kify - Complete Website Solutions and Internet Portal.

Free Screensavers and Wallpapers Directory - All Free and hundreds to choose from!

Doctor Forums - Online News and Discussion Forums for an Independent Doctor.

Copyright © 2006 funSMS .NET All rights reserved.

Content on this web site is provided for informational purposes only. We accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person resulting from information published on this site. We encourage you to verify any critical information with the relevant authorities. This article is licensed under the gnu. It uses material from the wikipedia. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites.