Multimedia Messaging Service

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is a standard way to send messages that include multimedia content to and from a mobile phone over a cellular network. Users and providers may refer to such a message as a PXT, a picture message, or a multimedia message.^[1] The MMS standard extends the core SMS (Short Message Service) capability, allowing the exchange of text messages greater than 160 characters in length. Unlike text-only SMS, MMS can deliver a variety of media, including up to forty seconds of video, one image, a slideshow^[2] of multiple images, or audio.

Media companies have utilized MMS on a commercial basis as a method of delivering news and entertainment content, and retailers have deployed it as a tool for delivering scannable coupon codes, product images, videos, and other information. On (mainly) older devices, messages that start off with text, as SMS, are converted to and sent as an MMS when an emoji is added.^[3]^[4]

The commercial introduction of MMS started in March 2002,^[1] although picture messaging had already been established in Japan.^[5] It was built using the technology of SMS^[2] as a captive technology which enabled service providers to "collect a fee every time anyone snaps a photo."^[6] MMS was designed to be able to work on the then-new GPRS and 3G networks^[7] and could be implemented through either a WAP-based or IP-based gateway.^[8] The 3GPP and WAP Forum groups fostered the development of the MMS standard, which was then continued by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA).

^ ^a ^b Le Bodic, Gwenaël (2005). Mobile Messaging Technologies and Services: SMS, EMS and MMS (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. p. 208. ISBN 0-470-01143-2.
^ ^a ^b "The History of Multimedia Messaging (MMS) - MMS London". www.mmsworldlondon.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
^ "Emoticons in texts can rack up huge bills". BBC News. 2015-02-05. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
^ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
^ Dodson, Sean (2003-07-03). "The real picture". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
^ Parks, Bob (October 2000). "Wired Magazine, The Big Picture - Philippe Kahn". Wired. Archived from the original on 2006-03-26. Retrieved 2006-04-20.
^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:1-1] Le Bodic, Gwenaël (2005). Mobile Messaging Technologies and Services: SMS, EMS and MMS (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. p. 208. ISBN 0-470-01143-2.

[:0-2] "The History of Multimedia Messaging (MMS) - MMS London". www.mmsworldlondon.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2016-12-27.

[3] "Emoticons in texts can rack up huge bills". BBC News. 2015-02-05. Retrieved 2024-07-01.

[4] "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-07-01.

[5] Dodson, Sean (2003-07-03). "The real picture". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-01.

[6] Parks, Bob (October 2000). "Wired Magazine, The Big Picture - Philippe Kahn". Wired. Archived from the original on 2006-03-26. Retrieved 2006-04-20.

[:2-7] Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:3-8] Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]