AT&T notifies iPhone users of impending MMS launch

[AppleInsider]

Wireless carrier AT&T began sending out text messages this week letting iPhone users know that multimedia messaging capabilities will be available on Friday, Sept. 25.

The free message sent from AT&T to subscribers reaffirms the Friday launch date announced weeks ago for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. Original iPhone users will not be able to use MMS functionality.

"AT&T Free Msg: Picture & video messaging (MMS) will be available for iPhone on 9/25," the message reads. "While we prepare your account for MMS capability, the current "view my message" experience will be turned off but your ability to send and receive text messages will not be affected."

Some users have reported that AT&T has already enabled MMS functionality on their iPhone. With iPhone OS 3.0, Apple added the ability to allow users to send pictures, video and audio recordings, but the new feature requires operator support. Users will also be able to send contacts or locations from the Maps application.

AT&T has been working for months to prepare their systems and network for MMS capabilities on the iPhone, which is expected to bring a great deal of additional bandwidth the the wireless provider's network. While the feature was originally promised late in the summer, its Sept. 25 launch date will miss the already-passed season by a few days.

Tethering with the iPhone was also supposed to be offered, however AT&T officials have said that the functionality is expected at a later date. The nation's second-largest wireless carrier, however, has said it has no plans to cap bandwidth use for iPhone users, even when tethering is offered.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[teckstud]

OK- EVERYBody remember. MMS all day 9/25/09 with a pic of the iPhone stating "AT&T SUCKS!" and crash the network!

[iphonedeveloperthailand]

Can't wait to finally be out of the cave.

[JupiterOne]

I'm curious what's going to happen to the Messages app on 9/25. Will there suddenly appear some new widget that lets me click on it to insert a picture, video or whatever? Right now I have a To: field and a text field for the SMS text.

Messages settings doesn't show anything other than 'Show Preview' and 'Repeat Alert'.

So what's going to change on 9/25 that will all of a sudden let me send MMS?

[PatsFan83]

Originally Posted by teckstud

OK- EVERYBody remember. MMS all day 9/25/09 with a pic of the iPhone stating "AT&T SUCKS!" and crash the network!

Real smart.

[al_bundy]

Originally Posted by JupiterOne

I'm curious what's going to happen to the Messages app on 9/25. Will there suddenly appear some new widget that lets me click on it to insert a picture, video or whatever? Right now I have a To: field and a text field for the SMS text.

Messages settings doesn't show anything other than 'Show Preview' and 'Repeat Alert'.

So what's going to change on 9/25 that will all of a sudden let me send MMS?

there is an easter egg in 3.1 that will activate

[teckstud]

3 steps forward, 2 steps back! This is so exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing how Apple does this one better.

[c4rlob]

I don't plan to leave AT&T, because they are the exclusive iPhone carrier in the US, and their customer/online services are quite helpful and convenient. However, they have lost my trust. I initially trusted their business savvy and judgement when they secured the iPhone exclusivity because I figured any company that could win over Apple must be doing something right. But the way they've struggled to keep up with the iPhone phenomenon is making me realize they were likely chosen more because they were the only carrier willing to relinquish enough control over to Apple. And that it had nothing to do with actual performance.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by PatsFan83

Real smart.

Well it wasn't very smart of them to promise something they couldn't deliver on.

[mpantone]

Originally Posted by teckstud

3 steps forward, 2 steps back! This is so exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing how Apple does this one better.

AT&T's tardy release of MMS support has nothing to do with Apple. 29 international carriers had MMS working when the iPhone 3.0 software was released in June.

Apple arguably should have included MMS support in the original phone, but hey, they were newbies to the whole cellphone industry at the time and perhaps they underestimated public demand for the feature. It's hard to get everything right the first time around, especially for a complex device such as the iPhone.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by c4rlob

I don't plan to leave AT&T, because they are the exclusive iPhone carrier in the US, and their customer/online services are quite helpful and convenient. However, they have lost my trust. I initially trusted their business savvy and judgement when they secured the iPhone exclusivity because I figured any company that could win over Apple must be doing something right. But the way they've struggled to keep up with the iPhone phenomenon is making me realize they were likely chosen more because they were the only carrier willing to relinquish enough control over to Apple. And that it had nothing to do with actual performance.

Hello? You just deduced that? They have been consistently rated at the bottom or near bottom for years on both performance and customer service. But regardless -what does it have to do with trust?

[presskat]

Originally Posted by c4rlob

I don't plan to leave AT&T ... I initially trusted their business savvy and judgement when they secured the iPhone exclusivity ...

Are you forgetting the iPhone was to partner with Cingular? Soon before the launch of the iPhone, AT&T bought out the rollover-minutes king of the cell towers. If you recall, Cingular had the hip attitude that seemed to play well with Apple. After the buyout Jobs, decided to stick with the rebranded company.

[Roc Ingersol]

So... they're going to break MMS before they fix MMS?

How about you start sending my phone actual MMS messages before you turn off the existing work-around?

I prefer email personally -- but people still insist on sending me MMS messages and I'm not wild about them just spinning off into the void for a few days.

[Spamboy]

Well, I'm still happy with my First Generation iPhone, which won't have this ability >apathetic shrug<.

Anyhow, the thing I think is funny is the screenshot shows that AT&T only has 3 bars!!! LOL.

[JupiterOne]

Originally Posted by Roc Ingersol

So... they're going to break MMS before they fix MMS?

How about you start sending my phone actual MMS messages before you turn off the existing work-around?

I prefer email personally -- but people still insist on sending me MMS messages and I'm not wild about them just spinning off into the void for a few days.

Has 'View My Message' actually ever worked for you? I do not remember EVER going to View My Message and not getting some kind of error message.

[PaulMJohnson]

I remember when the original iPhone OS came out and Apple didn't manage to implement something simple like Cut, Copy & Paste, the concensus on this board was that this was OK - Apple were working on more important things.

Then they didn't get a camera into the new iPod touch, but that was OK, Apple were right to delay something that wasn't going to be right.

Then AT&T don't have the infrastructure ready to allow MMS at the same time as everyone else, and they are morons.

Funny that!

[AvidMarxist]

I'm on a family plan, with unlimited messaging, out in San Francisco, running iPhone 3GS with OS 3.1

Did people on the West Coast get this message yet?

[Mr.Scott]

This message letting us know this is going to happen is going to be sent when??? Still waiting on my text message from AT&T if it's legit that is...

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by PaulMJohnson

I remember when the original iPhone OS came out and Apple didn't manage to implement something simple like Cut, Copy & Paste, the concensus on this board was that this was OK - Apple were working on more important things.

Then they didn't get a camera into the new iPod touch, but that was OK, Apple were right to delay something that wasn't going to be right.

Then AT&T don't have the infrastructure ready to allow MMS at the same time as everyone else, and they are morons.

Funny that!

[JohnnyKrz]

If you used a desktop computer instead of the iPhone to 'view my message', then it wasn't too bad, but having to write down the user/pass (or go back and forth with copy/paste) made it completely unusable to me and I would usually just forget about the message.

In answer to the eternal question as to why Apple chose AT&T, I think it is simple. They are the largest GSM carrier in the US and the iPhone needed to be GSM because it is international. Also, they aren't that bad in areas such as mine and probably weren't that bad anywhere before the iPhone started using their bandwidth.

[chrispo86]

I'm in New York (Long Island to be precise) and I haven't gotten any messages about MMS... I really don't think I'll use it more than once every couple of months. I can count the MMS's I've received on my older phones up until my 3GS on one hand, and I've never sent one. Honestly it's not a feature that I've really even noticed missing...

I know a lot of people use it, but for me, couldn't really care less about it.

[teckstud]

Still no message- here in NYC.

[ghostface147]

Funny how copy/paste was enabled in 3.0, but yet somehow it still doesn't work when trying to get the username and password for viewmymessage. You couldn't ever select just the username and just the password. However I am satisfied with AT&T and won't be leaving them anytime soon. They offer excellent coverage for my area of town and excellent 3G speeds.

[AppleZilla]

Whatever. Where's tethering, AT&T?

http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3gs/tethering.html

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Wireless carrier AT&T began sending out text messages this week letting iPhone users know that multimedia messaging capabilities will be available on Friday, Sept. 25.

They just started, "Wireless carrier AT&T began sending out text messages this week…"

On AT&T: Media Kit

An update on iPhone MMS for our Mobility Customers

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=1574

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by AppleZilla

Whatever. Where's tethering, AT&T?

http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3gs/tethering.html

Don't hold your breath. Did AT&T officially promise it?

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by JohnnyKrz

In answer to the eternal question as to why Apple chose AT&T, I think it is simple. They are the largest GSM carrier in the US and the iPhone needed to be GSM because it is international. Also, they aren't that bad in areas such as mine and probably weren't that bad anywhere before the iPhone started using their bandwidth.

More important, AT&T promised to invest and build up their system and to significantly reduce the current prices that were typically being charge by all carriers worldwide for data.

Verizon, who Apple approached first, would not comply and in fact turned it down outright. Incidentally, a lot of international services hesitated at first and waited to see how AT&T faired.

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Don't hold your breath. Did AT&T officially promise it?

Yes, and in writing:

iPhone 3GS Frequently Asked Questions

Q.Will AT&T offer MMS and tethering?
A. Later this summer, as part of the 3.0 software, AT&T will make multimedia messaging (MMS) available at no extra cost to customers with a text messaging bundle. And, in the future, AT&T will offer tethering capability for iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/in...iphone-faq.jsp

[noexpectations]

Originally Posted by AppleZilla

Whatever. Where's tethering, AT&T?

http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3gs/tethering.html

Why wait for tethering? Just get the free 3G card now for your PC...I would bet that monthly service would be the same (tethering versus dedicated 3G card).

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Abster2core

Yes, and in writing:

iPhone 3GS Frequently Asked Questions

Q.Will AT&T offer MMS and tethering?
A. Later this summer, as part of the 3.0 software, AT&T will make multimedia messaging (MMS) available at no extra cost to customers with a text messaging bundle. And, in the future, AT&T will offer tethering capability for iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/in...iphone-faq.jsp

Ok, but that's not stating that they won't charge extra for it. And I wouldn't put it past them.

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Ok, but that's not stating that they won't charge extra for it. I wouldn't put it past them.

Why always so frigg'n negative?

And why not? Everybody else that provides unlimited data plans either charges separately for tethering or it is buried so deep, even a minor's light and a pneumatic drill wouldn't help find it.

[tbehunin]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Original iPhone users will not be able to use MMS functionality.

Boo.

[ghostface147]

Originally Posted by Abster2core

Everybody else that provides unlimited data plans either charges separately for tethering or it is buried so deep, even a minor's light and a pneumatic drill wouldn't help find it.

There are some international carriers that offer iPhone tethering free.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Abster2core

Why always so frigg'n negative?

And why not? Everybody else that provides unlimited data plans either charges separately for tethering or it is buried so deep, even a minor's light and a pneumatic drill wouldn't help find it.

Why so frigg'n negative.?

1.) My bill is sky high already.

2.) http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/biztech...age/index.html

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

Originally Posted by teckstud

OK- EVERYBody remember. MMS all day 9/25/09 with a pic of the iPhone stating "AT&T SUCKS!" and crash the network!

Are you 11 or 13? I can't quite pin your age down...

[kpluck]

Originally Posted by teckstud

OK- EVERYBody remember. MMS all day 9/25/09 with a pic of the iPhone stating "AT&T SUCKS!" and crash the network!

Actually, it would be better to send a video text message to at&t customer service asking them to support net neutrality.

-kpluck

[Abster2core]

Originally Posted by tbehunin

Boo.

Like most cell phones, they are not physically capable to send or receive MMS.

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Well it wasn't very smart of them to promise something they couldn't deliver on.

Did you ever promise to type a sensible, mature post? If so, we're still waiting.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Napoleon_PhoneApart

Are you 11 or 13? I can't quite pin your age down...

Dude, anyone named Napoleon_PhoneApart shouldn't be asking that sort of question.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Napoleon_PhoneApart

Did you ever promise to type a sensible, mature post? If so, we're still waiting.

You mean like you just didn't?
Nope- never promised it, but always deliver it.