About MMS - I

The Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is a new messaging service that allows messages containing pictures, audio clips, text and in the future, video, to be sent and received between one customer and another.

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is a store and forward messaging service which allows cell phone 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

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is an important emerging service, which allows the sending of multiple media in a single message, and the ability to send a message to multiple recipients at one time.

Just as the traditional short message service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS) provides automatic and immediate delivery of personal messages. Unlike the SMS however, MMS allows mobile phone users to enhance their messages by incorporating sound, images, and other rich content, transforming it into a personalized visual and
audio message.

But MMS technology offers more than just a broadening of message content. With MMS, it is not only possible to send your multimedia messages from one phone to another, but also from phone to email, and vice versa. This feature dramatically increases the possibilities of mobile communication, both for private and corporate use.

The originator of the message, can easily create a Multimedia Message, either using a built-in or accessory camera, or can use images and sounds stored previously in the cell phone ( or possibly downloaded from a site).

Several Multimedia Messages can be stored in the users handset and reviewed or forwarded at a later date.

How MMS works:

Depending upon the mobile operator, a typical example of how MMS messages are sent and received between two compatible MMS mobile phones is :

1: Using an MMS compatible phone, take a picture.
2: Use your mobile phone to personalize the message by adding text, voice or sound clip
3: Send the MMS message

On a compatible cell phone, the MMS message will appear with a new message alert. The picture message will open on the screen, the text will appear below the image and the sound, if any, plays automatically.

Comparison of MMS with SMS:

SMS messages are not delivered in real time because they follow the 'store and forward' model. All SMS messages first get sent to the SMSC (Short Message Service Centre) from where they are routed to the recipient. MMSC (Multi Media Service Centre) performs an analogous function to the SMSC for the purposes of this discussion.
Like SMS messages, MMS messages are also not delivered in real time. However the actual interaction in the delivery of MMS messages is different from that of SMS.

SMS messages delivery is quite simple - SMS messages get sent first to the SMSC and if the SMSC can deliver the message immediately to the recipient, the message is sent to them.

To be Continued..