What is MMS multimedia messaging services

Technical details of Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS):

1. Overview:
   • MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service.
   • It is a standard way to send messages that include multimedia content (such as images, videos, and audio) to and from mobile phones over a cellular network.
   • Users and providers may refer to MMS messages as PXT, picture messages, or multimedia messages.
2. Core Features:
   • MMS extends the core SMS (Short Message Service) capability.
   • Unlike text-only SMS, MMS can deliver a variety of media, including:
     • Images
     • Videos (up to forty seconds in length)
     • Slideshow of multiple images
     • Audio
3. Technical Description:
   • MMS messages are delivered differently from SMS:
     • The sending device encodes the multimedia content, similar to sending a MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) message.
     • The message is forwarded to the carrier’s MMS store and forward server (known as the MMSC).
     • If the receiver is on a different carrier, the MMSC acts as a relay, forwarding the message to the recipient’s carrier MMSC using the Internet.
     • The recipient’s MMSC determines whether the receiver’s handset is “MMS capable.”
     • If supported, the content is extracted and sent to a temporary storage server with an HTTP front-end.
     • An SMS “control message” containing the URL of the content is sent to the recipient’s handset.
     • The receiver’s WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) browser opens and retrieves the content from the embedded URL.
     • Additional messages indicate the status of the delivery attempt.
     • Some MMSCs also include a content adaptation service to modify multimedia content into a suitable format for the receiver.
4. Use Cases:
   • Sending photographs from camera-equipped handsets.
   • Media companies use MMS for delivering news and entertainment content.
   • Retailers deploy MMS for delivering scannable coupon codes, product images, videos, and other information.
5. History:
   • MMS technology evolved from SMS messaging, first developed in 1984.
   • Commercial MMS services began in March 2002.
   • Between 2010 and 2013, MMS traffic in the U.S. increased significantly due to smartphone adoption.