MMS



Stands for "Multimedia Messaging Service." MMS is mobile phone service that allows users to send multimedia messages to each other. This includes images, videos, and sound files.

MMS is an extension of SMS, which is used to send and receive text messages. Like text messages, multimedia messages are first transmitted to a central server maintained by the cellular service provider. Once the message has been received by the server, it is forwarded to the recipient. If the recipient's phone is off or she does not have cell phone service when the message is sent, the server will hold the message and send it once the recipient's phone is available.
Most modern cell phones and smartphones support MMS messaging. MMS support is typically integrated into the text messaging interface and activates automatically when needed. For example, if you type a text-only message, it will be sent using SMS. If you add a graphic or video, the multimedia portion will be transmitted via MMS. Similarly, if someone sends you an multimedia message, your phone will automatically use MMS to receive the file. If your phone does not support MMS messages, you will most likely receive a text message that includes a URL where you can view the file from a Web browser.

Named as MMS, the Multimedia Messaging Service is a store and forward messaging service that allows subscribers to exchange multimedia files as messages.
MMS supports the transmission of various media types: text, picture, audio, video, or a combination of all four. The originator can easily create a Multimedia Message, by snaping a photo with the phone camera, or by using images and sounds stored previously in the phone (or downloaded from a web site).
If the recipient phone is not switched on or it has not been setup to receive MMS messages, the Multimedia Message will be stored in a special repository offered by the GSM carrier.
In order to send or receive a MMS, the user must have a compatible phone that is running over a GPRS or 3G network. Most current mobile phones and operator networks support MMS.
The maximum message size (along with the attachments) is generally limited to 300KB (MMS 1.2), but recently the MMS 1.3 standard has allowed for a maximum size of 600KB. Wireless carriers however can impose their own size restrictions. Whenever possible we will try and state the MMS version supported by the individual handsets in our database.







MMS vs. SMS: How Are They Different?



Each service uses different technical protocols. SMS is a P2P text only messaging service. One message is sent to one recipient at a time. Messages are limited to 160 characters. MMS can send combinations of long text, image, video and/or audio to multiple recipients. Make the right choice with iChitChat right now! 


What you didn't ask about was EMS or Enhanced Messaging Service which is SMS but allows long messages to be sent by breaking them up and sending them individually to the wireless carrier's network and have them concatenated at the recipient's phone in the right order. Not all carrier's support EMS such as T-Mobile. So long messages will be received individually and in any order making them hard to read. The simple solution to getting readable messages from subscribers on carriers like T-Mobile is to invoke MMS by having them to include an image in their message. MMS allows the text part to be as long as 1000 characters.


SMS and MMS messaging are the two popular texting options used by businesses and organizations to communicate with their audience. 


Though they are both used in texting, there are certain key differences between MMS and SMS that can be crucial in improving results. 
SMS marketing and MMS marketing are both essential in keeping your business active. Let us look at them a little more closely to see which one would be more effective for your organization or use case.


There are three distinct points of difference between SMS and MMS text messages:
Content-type (supporting media)


Character limit


Pricing


Because of these differences, both SMS and MMS messaging have complimentary pros and cons that can benefit your text message marketing strategy differently. 


Advantages of SMS Messaging
Since SMS can have only text (and has a character limit), the texts are easily consumable without much mental energy
SMS are of course, cheaper than MMS – while still conveying the point
SMS can reach a wider audience (70% of cellphone users use it for texting) – even those whose mobile phones do not allow MMS texts. 


Disadvantages of SMS Messaging
There will be times when adding images and videos are better for conversion. In such cases, SMS clearly will not help. 
Similarly, texts are limited to a 160 character limit – making it tough to expand on a point.


Advantages of MMS messaging


MMS clearly overcomes the disadvantages of SMS. 
It allows rich media to be embedded – thus being more attention-grabbing and conducive to conversion
It also has a higher character limit (1600)- allowing you to offer more information in a single text
Disadvantages of MMS messaging
In contrast, MMS falls short where SMS has clear strengths
MMS costs more
MMS images and media may not be received by a lot of your audience (their device may not be compatible with getting rich-media texts)
MMS needs you to hire a resource to design eye-catching graphics (videos too) that can be sent. And this too will add to your costs.
Now that you have a clear understanding of what MMS and SMS texting can bring to your mobile marketing strategy, let us examine which can benefit you more.