RSSReports claim that the 3G iPhone will include MMS
By Ed Oswald | Published June 27, 2008, 2:47 PM
An Apple enthusiast blog claims it has seen an internal AT&T memo intended for its customer service representatives, stating that picture and video messaging are part of the new iPhone's feature set.
As iPhone Atlas mentions, AT&T's employees are not known for their accurate information. However, if verified, the emergence of this memo would mean the carrier is adding one of the missing features that the device has received some flak for failing to include.
AT&T's curious omission of any kind of text messaging from its iPhone 3G plans may also be a sign that it may be working on something, the site speculates. Current iPhone subscribers have text messages included in their plans, and other carriers worldwide have already included texting within their own offerings.
While standard SMS has reached levels of adoption in the US similar to where it had been elsewhere (we're still behind according to Gartner, though) with more feature-rich phones, MMS has begun to catch on. This has been furthered by the inter-carrier deals that the carriers first began signing three years ago.
Nearly all phones now include MMS capability, which allows for the sending of pictures and video by SMS, with the near ubiquity of cameras on phones. The iPhone has a camera too: but in order to send a picture, the user has to e-mail it.
Video was not supported in the first generation iPhone; however, a third party application now available to those who have jailbroken their phones, which allows for the recording of video, proves that it can be done.
Apple has made no mention of video capabilities with the iPhone 3G, but it's not out of the question that the feature may still be added. The company has often added features to its products with little or no advanced notice officially.
AT&T is not commenting on the report, directing the press to contact Apple. As is customary with most rumors, so far the Cupertino company has not responded to requests for comment.
I had the salt out while reading this article, just to take a pinch with it you understand.
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|I havent once had the need to MMS. Ever...with any phone.
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|So that somehow in any way has any meaning at all to anyone else who does use MMS?
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|Oh come on... Who really gives a rats butt about MMS when you're on a 3G or an Edge network?
Just use email - we're talking year 2008!
You can always spice up your iPhone with a great background from http://www.mobilejacz.com though!
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|Well every Australian, for starters. Our plans don't come with free e-mail or unlimited data - making e-mailing rather expensive. Yet all of our caps & plans include MMS in the cost: so Aussies are far more likely to MMS someone a picture for free than e-mail it @ 2.2c per kB.
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|But e-mail doesn't go directly to someone's mobile, unlike MMS, does it? Much better, quicker and easier to use MMS than sending to e-mail.
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|MMS is easier! Plus not everybody even has an e-mail and not everyone that has one checks it! If I send it through MMS it is there right on their phone. Yes we are talking 2008 here and sending the pics through e-mail is not 2008!
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|Isn't the Camera on the back of the new iPhone? If your doing a video messeging with someone, how are you suppost to see each other if your both looking at the screen to see each other?
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|Where/when did video conferencing come into any of this?
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|That’s one of the main selling points of 3G in many countries
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|Nothing to do with MMS, however, video calling is usually done with a camera on the FRONT of the mobile (see most 3G Nokia phones).
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|That's great and all, but unrelated to what the article and thus the discussion is about.
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|how do you send video messages then if not using MMS?
Has everything to do with the article
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|You can record them using a regular camera on the phone (assuming video recording is available to begin with). However, that has nothing to do with video conferencing or front-facing cameras or anything of the sort.
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|Wow, there goes Apple again... innovating!
I wonder why no other manufacturer has thought of including MMS on a camera phone? *sigh*
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|Some thoughts:
1. It is innovative to leave off features that common but have questionable value to allow more useful features.
2. If you use the iPhone and don't think it is innovative, you are welcome to use Windows Mobile and enjoy their innovation (represented by the number of current WM6 articles). Oh yes, and the usability. Why wouldn't you want to reboot your PDA to make a call?
3. Keep in mind that despite the wild success, the iPhone is a 1.0 device.
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|"1. It is innovative to leave off features that common but have questionable value to allow more useful features."
You're telling me, by including MMS apple would have to leave other features out?? How is thaht innovative, exactly?? Is MMS that complicated to implement?? Being able to send pics through your phone has questionable value??
Apple fanboys never cease to amaze me!
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|MMS is of questionable value? Says who exactly? Let's not try to justify something that simply can't be justified, let alone shouldn't be.
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|so, hold on...it's news that the iphone will include MMS, something that has been in a great percent of cell phones already??? what's next, allowing bluetooth techonology to transfer files between devices and not strictly restricting it to syncing and/or talking? i'm sure this will be a muchtalked about feature of firmware 2.1 or something. apple keeps introducing "NEW" features with the much surrounding hoopla, and it turns out that its not new, other ppl have had it for years.
i own an ipod touch and i love it, but apple could have done much better for such an expensive device.
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|"...MMS capability, which allows for the sending of pictures and video by SMS...": that's not really how it works--SMS can't be used for anything other than short text.
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|I love my Iphone, but it without a doubt has some downfalls. The lack of MMS is a BIG one. In fact that was the first caveat that I found. The 2nd was the horrible speakerphone echo.
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