What is MMS?

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Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is a standard in mobile messaging. Like SMS (Short Messaging Service), MMS is a way to send a message from one mobile to another. The difference is that MMS can include not just text, but also sound, images and video. It is also possible to send MMS messages from a mobile phone to an email address.

Formats that can be embedded within MMS include:

Text (formatted with fonts, colours, etc)
Images (JPEG, GIF format)
Audio (MP3, MIDI)
Video (MPEG)

MMS is an extension of the SMS protocol, making its usage familiar to existing SMS users. An MMS message is a single entity, not a collection of attachments. One of the main practical differences between MMS and SMS is that whilst SMS messages are limited to 160 bytes, an MMS message has no size limit and could be many Kbytes in size, or even larger. MMS requires a third generation (3G) network to enable such large messages to be delivered, although smaller messages can be sent even with second generation networks using GPRS.

Whilst mobile phone users can create and send their own MMS messages, perhaps the biggest use of MMS is likely to be companies sending MMS messages to subscribers, enquirers or customers. For example, a company could send visitors an MMS map to help them find their office. Other possible applications include weather reports, news & sport bulletins, etc.

The first MMS capable phones started to appear in 2002, and the standard looks set to become very widely used in the years ahead. Different manufacturers are introducing MMS technologies in different ways. Some are introducing MMS directly into their phones, whilst others are introducing phones that have EMS (Enhanced messaging Service). EMS is a halfway house between SMS and MMS, providing some of the features of MMS (e.g. formatted text, simple pictures, simple audio such as ringtones, and even some animation). EMS is a technology that is designed to work with existing networks, but will ultimately be made obsolete by MMS.

User comments

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Comment by dave from uk on 1st May 2013
I am on a contract mobile phone, I get an allowance every month but still get charged for mms messages, I do not send any large messages two or three words cant understand My provider is talktalk
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Comment by tony from uk on 22nd Aug 2012
can you mms on zest 2 t mobile phone?
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Comment by martin from uk on 17th Jun 2012
i lost my phone and quite a few contacts i used 3g mms How can i find the numbers i sent them to as o2 my provider say on your bill it only says 3g text but on my bill it shows all sms numbers i have text
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Comment by sunny from pakistan on 11th May 2012
Hay i wana know that as you know that mms sent via internet so will my previous mms will be saved on my mobile sevice provider's server?
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Comment by nigel peter wilby from englandwhe on 1st May 2012
When sending a lengthy text it converts itself into mms and my friends have not received the message, why should this be?
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Comment by Nikki from UK on 18th Apr 2012
MMS is more interesting however it can hip wrong kind of gossip!
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Comment by Lamido from Nigeria on 22nd Mar 2012
MMS is more interesting & satisfyng than SMS, so use it wisely.
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Comment by Peter Batchelor from UK on 15th Mar 2012
Question: does MMS include Predictive texting?
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Comment by kia from scotland on 16th Feb 2012
coud you please tell me how to open mms message on my galaxey y
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Comment by rohit kumar,sambalghad from india on 3rd Feb 2012
thanx
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Comment by Shubratta from Bangladesh on 1st Feb 2012
If describe how to open a MMS Message then it will be very helpfull for simple & general men.
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Reply by resa from Iran on 11th Jun 2012
My son, who lives in Australia insisting on me to use MMS. I don't know how to start anyway. i live in Iran

Comment by NADIA from USA on 25th Jan 2012
THANK YOU VERY HELPFULL
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Comment by faraaz from india on 24th Jan 2012
thanks for information
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Comment by sejal from india on 21st Jan 2012
myn problem is that i had been sent an MMS from my relative on my mobile. i recieve the sms but i dont know how it is open and how i can view the photo
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Comment by Soloblue from Abia state,Nigeria. on 18th Jan 2012
with a heart full of great delight & immence pleasure that I 4mali want 2 appreciate u 4 d great job u guys are doing. I will b more greatful , if u will make d page 4 Nokia's phone mms available. Tanx & remain bless.
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Comment by sam from india on 17th Jan 2012
thanx 4 giving information
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MMS / EMS Resources

Nokia MMS page
Ericsson MMS page
Mobile MMS

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