What is MMS messaging?
By S21
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is a standard in mobile messaging. Like SMS (Short Messaging Service), MMS messaging 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 an MMS message from a mobile phone to an email address.
Features of MMS
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 questions
Sorry - questions and comments on this page are now closed.
WhatsPp facebook?
Asked by pat montello
from united states
on 1st Nov 2018
was on what's app getting crazy messages saying nigeria phone number
getting same messages from facebook how scammers doing this passing me
off using other people identity I am shutting everything down have had
it.
Can you have in coming messages go into another app or hide them in phone?
Asked
by Jason
from United states
on 16th Oct 2018
Why can't get mms picture to download on sms?
Asked by Ricky Davis
from United States
on 18th Sep 2018
User comments
Sorry - reviews and comments on this page are now closed.
Comment by Bren
from US
on 3rd Nov 2018
Very helpful!!
Comment by Carolyn
from Usa
on 5th Aug 2018
I need mms messages from dec 2016.
At all possible? The
messages contain pics and text of my grandsons abuse and I need it to
show proof. Att
Says they only have outside contents. Any
suggestions would be much appreciated.
Comment by alchemyst
from UK
on 28th Jul 2018
Well my phone cannot receive the stuff.
So they send you
a weblink and they send you a password.
you put all of
this into the computer and it gets rejected.
IT IS A waste
of time.
Comment by Sylvia
from United States
on 26th May 2018
How to use mms country is. Name Sylvia?
Comment by philip Lameck
from Tanzania
on 11th Dec 2017
How can i set my Microsoft account in order to access point name to
support my phone to work properly?
Comment by tina
from cummings
on 21st Sep 2017
If i send a picture to someone and it says mms messaging is he the
only one who will receive it or does all my contacts too?
Comment by pam cobb
from Switzerland
on 3rd Aug 2017
I have a Lumia 650 phone with Windows 10 but I cannot send or receive
MMS . According to my provider everything is set up correctly yet it
simply doesn't work! Is is absolutely essential to have Data
Connection on to send/receive MMS?
My previous phone (Apple) did
NOT require Data connection so I am very confused!
Thanks
Pamela
Reply by Cindy
from USA
on 1st Dec 2017
I had this problem with my Lumia 525 and MS Lumia 950 when I kept on
Battery Saver which turns off services to conserve the battery life. I
believe Data Saver does the same thing.
Comment by Barbara
from USA
on 6th Jul 2017
How can I turn on mms messaging?
Comment by Nora
from Texas
on 20th Jun 2017
What age do you consider a senior? And I would like to send mess to
friends on my contacts list with out issues, I have a iPad is that the
problem I get message but it's difficult to send message to people who
haven't sent me messages.
Comment by Marilyn Paul
from Uk
on 15th Apr 2017
When my text message becomes lengthy an MMS message comes up, but the
receiver of the message cannot always access it. what should they do
to download it? Thanks.
Comment by ANANDKRSINHA
from NAWADA
on 3rd Apr 2017
How to Oraina?
Comment by Robin Hatfield
from United States
on 7th Mar 2017
Why can't i get mms?
Comment by Ali Ahmed
from somalia
on 6th Mar 2017
Please iam requesting phone multimidea backup thanks helping.
Comment by Joan
from Canada
on 31st Jan 2017
My MMS messages look different when I send them to one of my contacts.
They appear on her phone as if they are written on a piece of note
paper with the top left corner bent. MMS affects only one
contact.
Comment by Sarah
from Australia
on 9th Jan 2017
How can I find out the phone number an
MMS has been sent to ?
Phone with Telstra
And on a plan, however phone bill only
Details - date, time & If standard or video
MMS. I believe
i am being charged for MMS
that i have not sent however I am
unable to
To clarify this without knowing where or who
MMS has been sent to on phone bill.
Please assist if
can?
Comment by john
from uk
on 6th Jan 2017
I just cant send mms st all.
Comment by Julia
from USA
on 20th Dec 2016
I get MMS messages from my family...and a notice comes up to me to
DOWNLOAD MMS. Where do I find that...on an LG phone... HELP,
PLEASE!!
Comment by steven
from UK
on 29th Nov 2016
I have O2 as my provider on an Android phone . I have unlimited texts.
However if my SMS text is too long ,it converts it to MMS for which I
am charged. How long can a SMS text be before it reverts to
MSS?
Comment by emerlinda don
from Philippines bicol
on 12th Nov 2016
How to registered mmk?
Comment by s m Jahid Uddin
from Bangladesh
on 26th Oct 2016
How to see receved my Own mms. Please send me , How to the do it
.
Comment by Hussaini
from Nigeria
on 14th Aug 2016
If i send images, that means is mms? Or i well send a big messages
first ? and each is mms hawmoch.
Reply by Lillian
from South Africa
on 27th May 2017
How much does it cost to send a photo and can I send it without a
memory card?
Comment by E
from Oklahoma
on 12th Aug 2016
What would be causing mms if I am not sending pictures videos or big
messages?
Comment by Merdene
from USA
on 9th Aug 2016
I received a mms picture and text of my boyfriend on my old cell phone
but he did not send it could a third party have gotten the number and
sent it?
Comment by Shelly Robinson
from Mecklenburg
on 3rd Aug 2016
Hello i have an Android HTC phone and i was sent a MMS message on
Messenger this morning, but when i clicked on it, it just says
downloading. it will not open or let me see the message or pictures if
that is what he sent. Please help me open this so i can see what he
sent and respond. Thank You, Very Much.
Reply by Kelly terry
from Wales
on 22nd Oct 2016
It's down loading go to eee I do that and still nothing.
Comment by leah
from USA
on 31st Jul 2016
When the text is quite long it takes hours sometimes to send. If the
time is excessive delete the text and resend with fewer
characters.
Reply by Graham
from England
on 27th Sep 2016
Hi there ,when you send a MMS message
you must turn on mobile
data, then it will send it.
Comment by sue
from England
on 28th Jul 2016
I start to write a text (SMS) and if I write a lot it becomes a MMS.
When I press send the message comes up as, 'failed to send'. I don't
understand why!
Can anybody help please?<b
Comment by Sandy
from Usa
on 14th Jul 2016
Does it cost to use?
Comment by Cezar Benitez
from California
on 13th Jul 2016
I can't send or recieve multimedia messages why is that can you please
help me out?
Comment by belva
from usa
on 12th Jul 2016
I am unable to send pictures. It tells me I have too many unsent
multimedia.
Reply by Janie sandate
from United States
on 22nd Jul 2016
Why can't I send pictures on my phone? My galaxy 6 edge most won't let
me what do I do...
Comment by Kathie mayhew
from USA
on 6th Jul 2016
If I write a long message the other person is not able to get it. It
says,it can't download the message, is that because it's to
long??
Comment by BRENDA
from UK
on 30th Jun 2016
My Nokia previously changed messages to mms when they became too long
but that has now stopped, I can't get the internet as the settings are
wrong, can anyone help?
Comment by Ed
from US
on 17th May 2016
Trying to send an MMS message from my tracfone to a Sprint customer.
The pics have gone through in the past, but suddenly stopped working
recently. Any idea on what the problem could be, and how to fix
it?
Comment by hedar elatassi
from usa
on 7th May 2016
I could not open message receive service center 16366388487 from
18326878428.
Comment by Lee,Jim
from USA
on 10th Apr 2016
I am trying to send photo on my IPad thru "Message " and was told that
I need to set up MMS in order to send photo & texts. How do I set
up MMS?
Reply by Immaculate
from US
on 3rd Jan 2017
Unable to send mms.
Comment by Sammy
from North America
on 28th Feb 2016
I'm getting mms messages to a link for mms website with a photo? And
someone is sending it to me every minute.
Comment by gboyega amoboye
from nigeria
on 30th Oct 2015
I have been receing messages that I should update my MMS how can I so
so pls Moreover I speak and read English but always receive MMS in a
very srange language thereby making the message useless I wanr this
error corrected so that future messages could be received in English
Language. Dor long I been unable to receivle e.mails on yahoo why pls
and kindly rectifypls. thanks.
Comment by William
from USA
on 20th Oct 2015
I'm concerned that i can see multi media messages on my Boost LG cell
phone.
Comment by Rhonda Terry
from prince. george
on 16th Jul 2015
The resason why i want to use multimedia message because it is my
first time and i want to use multimedia service thank you.
(240)605-6160
Comment by OWORI JOSEPH
from UGANDA
on 13th Jul 2015
LIKED SO MUCH
Comment by sphesihle gwala
from south africa
on 21st Jun 2015
I use blackberry 9320, it does not have mms function only email and
text msg. How to find mms services?
Regards
Comment by sabine
from new zealand
on 16th Jun 2015
I have my lg A-33o and was realy happy with my mms played on my phone
and I lost mms to message which is not realy working to send photos
to.
Comment by glenda
from united states
on 28th May 2015
My mms will not open in a text. It sends a mestage. Unable to
download. Try again later. Please help.
Comment by j irvine
from u. k.
on 23rd May 2015
i'm with bt and if i send a photo with my mobile they charge me 40
pence.
Comment by john
from usa
on 5th May 2015
cant figure out why my network interprets a picture message as a
multimedia that i cant download, is their a way i ccan get the
messages?
Comment by varun
from India
on 16th Jan 2015
I want to knw tht when we send mms on frnd mobile number he will
receive the mms on his phne test msg or on email id
Comment by David Eaton
from united states
on 13th Jan 2015
Cannot send muti media pictures from my phone to another does not send
multi media whatsoever. Can you give me some advice on how?
Comment by Lisa
from Canada
on 12th Jan 2015
Trying to send a photo & short message from USA to my son from my
pho
Comment by joy
from canada
on 17th Sep 2014
would the messages still send and received by the person your
sending.
Comment by trevorm
from uk
on 15th Sep 2014
why are MMS messages to a phone being diverted to a web
address?
Comment by Obadiah
from Nigeria
on 10th Sep 2014
I have 10 free mms to send. But i still need more knowledge on who i
am going to send the mms to(recipient). Could it be; to the recipient
phone number or his email address.
Comment by sara
from england
on 31st Aug 2014
helpful:)
Comment by Sarah
from USA
on 30th Jul 2014
Thank you. This was very helpful in that the information was simple,
brief and easy to understand.
Comment by lizzi
from england
on 23rd Jul 2014
How can I change the settings so it doesn't automatically changing sms
to mms on a HTC one m8 thanks
Comment by Bello
from Nigeria
on 18th Jul 2014
Does it simply means that phones that are not 3G can not receive and
sent MMS ? Tanx.
Comment by Emma
from Kenya
on 7th May 2014
I have an Ideos phone and I received an MMS but am unable to retrieve
it. please help me.
Comment by Welcome Mapetese
from Zimbabwe
on 1st Mar 2014
l figured out that mms is fast
Comment by Nora
from Scotland
on 5th Feb 2014
I discovered an MMS voicemail message on my partners phone asking him
to call them. Is it possible for mms to call you and leave messages by
phone?
Comment by Mtendere Eric Mlongoti
from Malawi
on 5th Feb 2014
Sharp!!
Comment by Thabani . Richard
from South Africa
on 26th Dec 2013
I have Laptop where I want to use mms because I am USING modem to get
Internet so there's a simcad there the card have number
Comment by Pamela
from USA
on 12th Dec 2013
How do you forward or email mms from Samsung galaxy phones? It's not
giving me that option.
Comment by susanta dhara
from india
on 27th Nov 2013
i am a student of master in jurnalism & masscommunication from noida
masscomedia. i am having problem reciving and sending picture. what
would be the problem with this.
Comment by Pat
from USA
on 26th Nov 2013
I have an LG Optimus Dynamic phone from straight talk. I am having
problems receiving and sending pictures. What would be the problem
with this
Comment by ISA
from Dubai
on 30th Sep 2013
thank you this was helpful in my gcse revision
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
Comment by tony from uk on 22nd Aug 2012
can you mms on zest 2 t mobile phone?
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
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?
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?
Comment by Nikki from UK on 18th Apr 2012
MMS is more interesting however it can hip wrong kind of gossip!
Comment by Lamido from Nigeria on 22nd Mar 2012
MMS is more interesting & satisfyng than SMS, so use it wisely.
Comment by Peter Batchelor from UK on 15th Mar
2012
Question: does MMS include Predictive texting?
Comment by kia from scotland on 16th Feb 2012
coud you please tell me how to open mms message on my galaxey y
Reply by Felix clarin
from Canada
on 17th Aug 2016
I need answer to that question as my problem the same. Need your
answer thank.you.
Comment by rohit kumar,sambalghad from india on
3rd Feb 2012
thanx
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.
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
Comment by faraaz from india on 24th Jan 2012
thanks for information
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
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.
Comment by sam from india on 17th Jan 2012
thanx 4 giving information