Filed under: Multimedia, iPhone
MMS finally comes to the iPhone
MMS (multimedia messaging service) has come to the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS.
You'll need to update your carrier settings by plugging in your iPhone to allow iTunes to see it, then go to "Check for Update." The update adds a 37k file (at least on the Mac), named: 'ATT_US.ipcc' file to your /Users/[Username]/Library/iTunes/iPhone Carrier Support/ folder if on a Mac.
In Windows XP the file is downloaded to: C:\Documents and Settings\[Username]\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Carrier Support
In Vista the file can be found in: C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Carrier Support\
The install just takes a second and you then need to restart your iPhone. When you do, your Messages app will gain a small camera icon to the left of the input box. Tapping it will bring up a screen allowing you to take a picture or video or to use an existing one from your iPhoto library.
Sending is pretty slow. This could be due to everyone trying it at the same time. One picture took about 20 seconds on Wi-Fi and a 5 second video took about 30 seconds to transmit.
The quality of the received picture or video is just as good as you hoped it would be. You can read more about iPhone carrier settings updates on this Apple support article.
Thanks to everyone for sending this in!
Here are some quick screen shots of what it looks like:
You'll need to update your carrier settings by plugging in your iPhone to allow iTunes to see it, then go to "Check for Update." The update adds a 37k file (at least on the Mac), named: 'ATT_US.ipcc' file to your /Users/[Username]/Library/iTunes/iPhone Carrier Support/ folder if on a Mac.
In Windows XP the file is downloaded to: C:\Documents and Settings\[Username]\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Carrier Support
In Vista the file can be found in: C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Carrier Support\
The install just takes a second and you then need to restart your iPhone. When you do, your Messages app will gain a small camera icon to the left of the input box. Tapping it will bring up a screen allowing you to take a picture or video or to use an existing one from your iPhoto library.
Sending is pretty slow. This could be due to everyone trying it at the same time. One picture took about 20 seconds on Wi-Fi and a 5 second video took about 30 seconds to transmit.
The quality of the received picture or video is just as good as you hoped it would be. You can read more about iPhone carrier settings updates on this Apple support article.
Thanks to everyone for sending this in!
Here are some quick screen shots of what it looks like:
Gallery: MMS comes to the iPhone
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
modok said 2:35PM on 9-25-2009
just got it!
Reply
David Winograd said 2:46PM on 9-25-2009
Oops, didn't know that it won't work on Wi-fi, but I should have thought of it since it's pretty obvious. Sorry about that.
steve said 2:41PM on 9-25-2009
"One picture took about 20 seconds on Wi-Fi and a 5 second video took about 30 seconds to transmit. "
You can't send MMS or SMS via wifi
Reply
David Winograd said 2:52PM on 9-25-2009
Right, no Wi-fi. Wasn't thinking.
Unknown said 3:34PM on 9-25-2009
The BB Curve with UMA capability on tmobile can send SMS and MMS via WiFi... it's very quick.
Ryan said 6:24PM on 9-25-2009
"The BB Curve with UMA capability on tmobile can send SMS and MMS via WiFi..."
Too bad its not an iPhone, and its on t-mobile.
Brian said 2:43PM on 9-25-2009
Finally...
Reply
mrfantastic8000 said 2:44PM on 9-25-2009
Do you have to be on 3.1?
Reply
David Winograd said 2:47PM on 9-25-2009
No according to the Apple information, it'll work with anything from OS 2.1 onward.
Heimbachae said 3:37PM on 9-25-2009
i see this, but when i connect my phone and follow the instructions nothing comes up that says "a carrier update is available" and i'm running 3.0.1. jailbreaking has it's perks, i'm not updating until i can jailbreak on my 3gs
Justin said 4:25PM on 9-25-2009
This is actually some tricky wording:
With iPhone 2.1 Software or later, the version of the carrier settings is visible on iPhone by tapping Settings > General > About and looking next to "Carrier". If you restore with a new version of the iPhone software, the carrier settings update may be included with that update. If not, iTunes will indicate that a carrier update is available after the restore.
What it is saying is that carrier settings are only visible on phones "with iPhone 2.1 software or later." In the last part of the paragraph, they say that the "carrier update is available after the restore." So if a the carrier settings update is not included as part of the iPhone software update, it will come through as a separate update but only after having installed the latest iPhone software.
I read on another website which I won't mention:
"Note: You need to be running iPhone 3.1, so if you haven’t updated your firmware yet, do that first."
Obviously you don't want to do this if you have a jailbroken 3GS.
iron9iant said 4:27PM on 9-25-2009
I used these instructions to get mms for my 3gs on 3.0.1 and tethering still works.
http://www.benm.at/att/
dizilbdog said 2:45PM on 9-25-2009
so if I'm at home on my wifi network and I send an MMS it won't go through?
Reply
Scruffy Bob said 2:52PM on 9-25-2009
MMS has nothing to do with WiFi. As long as you still have a cellular signal, you can send the MMS from home. If you have your cellular radio off and only WiFi enabled, then no, it will not work.
thedudeny said 2:45PM on 9-25-2009
They send, but it doesn't look like people are receiving them yet.
Reply
Chroma said 2:48PM on 9-25-2009
Does the reciever have the update also?
modok said 2:49PM on 9-25-2009
i can confirm that! jeez great way to mess this up, really i want to see some kickback for their awful service.
thedudeny said 3:11PM on 9-25-2009
Looks like they are now going through
wmcraveronline said 2:47PM on 9-25-2009
This is a great day.
Reply
christine said 2:47PM on 9-25-2009
But it looks like I can't receive MMS messages from my non-iPhone friends? Can anyone confirm or deny this?
Reply