“As you know AT&T finally enabled MMS (Multimedia Messaging) on the iPhone last Friday after Apple introduced the feature back in July with the iPhone OS 3.0 update,” Terry White blogs. “Although the iPhone officially had this capability when 3.0 was introduced earlier this summer, AT&T iPhone customers had to wait until the end of summer before being able to use it. Now that it’s on and working… Why MMS? Why not just use email?”
White writes, “After all if you’re an iPhone user, you’ve been able to send pictures via email on your iPhone since day one right? In an iPhone only world, sending emails is a good way to go. However, most non-iPhones, especially non-smartphones, something as simple as email can be a real pain. Many (probably most) non-smartphone users don’t even have email setup on their phones. So the email would go to their computers and they would see what you sent then. OK, what’s wrong with that? Actually nothing at all. Desktop email is a rich experience and once the picture is received it can be printed, added to albums and managed in a photo management program. It can even be edited. So then why MMS? I don’t think that it’s one or the other (MMS or email), I think it’s a matter of using the right one for the right situation. Think of why you send SMS (text messages) vs. email today? Usually if you send someone an SMS message it’s because you want them to read it right then and there and usually you want a response. ‘Where are you?’, ‘Bring home dinner.’ “What time does the movie start.’ ‘I’m running late.’ etc. You could easily send each of these via email, but the problem is they may not get it in time. So you send an SMS message instead because you want immediate attention. The same goes for MMS.”
White writes, “It’s pretty obvious that you can send Pictures from your iPhone 3G or pictures or video from your iPhone 3GS via MMS. After all there is a camera icon right in the Messages window for you to either snap a photo or choose one from your camera roll or library. However, what many don’t realize is that you can also send Voice Memos, Contacts and Location info via MMS as well.”
Full article here.
This guys a dumbass. Not everyone has email on their phone. If only everyone had an iPhone. Then I wouldn’t have to have a messaging plan at all.
MMS is still not working for me here in Baton Rouge. If I try to send a picture, the progress bar goes about 90% of the way, then I get a “send failed” error. And if someone sends me one, I still get the standard “go to http://www.viewmymessage.com“ text. WTF? Also keep in mind, this is an area with full 3G coverage.
Jimithy…
I had the same issue until I did a complete reset and restore.
Actually, I read one time where any phone that has SMS has an email address.
They are usually (phone number)@(carrier).net
Maybe att.net, tmomail.net, or verizonevermindifwecantchargextrayoudontgetit.net…..
Yeah MMS….is a big who cares!
@Mikeyboy117
Second paragraph, third sentence:
“However, most non-iPhones, especially non-smartphones, something as simple as email can be a real pain. Many (probably most) non-smartphone users don’t even have email setup on their phones.”
I believe he covered it.
Reasons to send photos via email:
I know 6 people who have iPhones.
Reasons to send MMS:
I know dozens of people who don’t have iPhones and don’t have email capable phones.
MMS is great – here’s why:
Last night my son and daughter used their 3GS’s to send a video clip and photos of the Colorado Rockies beating the Milwaukee Brewers in the 11th inning with a walk off home run.
Ya, they could have sent an email – that I would have seen the next day. (Don’t have push email account with domain names) But watching them celebrate with 18,000 fans seconds after it took place was really awesome.
This is what I’ve been saying for a while. MMS is for dumbphones that can’t handle email. Not saying that’s a bad thing since some people just want a phone.
Psssst! Hey White, I use my iMac for email, it beats the crap out of my iPhone for that. Gezz what a frigtard.
AT&T;SUCKS!!! AT&T;SUCKS!!! AT&T;SUCKS!!! Apple, please give us ANY alternative. Fees are exorbitant. Signal is always weak. Coverage is pathetic and mostly non-existent except in my immediate locale. Lack of MMS was just another drop of water in the bucket. PS – did I mention that AT&T;SUCKS!!!
You can also use it as a kind of poor mans iChat, until Apple makes an iPhone with videoconferencing.
The “big deal” is that most dumb phones have MMS capabilities, while the iPhone did not.
MMS is just another way of communicating to people that happens to be convenient in certain circumstances. It’s just like texting – good for some occasions, but certainly not necessary to replace a phone call.
The real issue is what format works best for the people you are communicating with.
Because I communicate with my closest friends mostly through SMS and MMS. it’s easier. We all have it across multiple phone platforms. If everyone had an iPhone it might be a different story, but probably not. We’ve grown used to SMS/MMS and it’s easy
This one is easy, and the author betrays his lack of awareness of the current generation of tweens and teens who are madly texting to friends over SMS who don’t have data accounts on their phones; i.e. most of them. SMS/MMS is the “lowest common denominator” for the cell-phone ecosystem. Now the cool kids with the iPhones can participate in the MMS activity.
One more way to help people crash their cars.
MMS = Mobile Mayhem Stimulus
I work for a company that offers Iphones as a choice, and we also use Microsoft Exchange 2007 R2.
Both AT&T;and Apple have confirmed that e-mail attachments do not send in a timely manner, and the Iphone usually tries several times over a couple hours period and then finally sends.
It is a major problem for us, and we are working with Apple ion repairing this global issue.
MMS is so five years ago. I have yet to use it on my 3GS. Email still sends better quality/size photos and video, and it’s free under the unlimited data plan.
“…I use my iMac for email, it beats the crap out of my iPhone for that.” —Proud Puppy
Of course your computer has superior email functionality, but so what? When you’re out and about, the iPhone offers a superior email experience compared to other cell phones. In fact, email on the iPhone is one of its best and easiest-to-use features.
If you personally have no interest in using email on your iPhone, then there’s no basis for you to even have an opinion on the subject.
AT&T;sucks hardcore! They are corporate life suckers and apple should open up to a carrier or carriers that actually have service and customer support that doesn’t treat high paying customers like dog poop like the loser AT&T;. AT&T;is going down!!!! Greedy jerks
Must be slow day at the office today to post this article. Users generally want to be able to have text messaging as a feature, so Apple added MMS. Not a big mystery.
@Jimithy I’m in Baton Rouge also, rural area and had no problems other than slow send times but otherwise ok.
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@bkire- Must be a slow day at the office for you to have read it. To most here, this is likely old info. For me, I have likely sent probably less than 5 SMS messages in the years I have had a phone and have yet to try a single MMS. Especially with the iPhone, I email everything. If it’s urgent, I call. So I found the article interesting as to the pros/cons of each, as simple as it may seem to many. Worthwhile article and postings for me to consider, and likely for many others who don’t post.
@macman,
Yeah I’ve used email since the early 90’s so I suppose that makes email so 15 years ago.
iPhoner:
Fcuk the Rockies!
PS
Go Brewers!