Mobile Messaging Technologies and Services: SMS, EMS and MMS, 2nd Edition

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Multimedia Messaging Service: Service and Architecture

The Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) can be seen as the “best of the breed” of several messaging services such as the Short Message Service (SMS), the Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS), and the Internet mail. The first SMS short text message is believed to have been exchanged in 1992. More than 10 years later, MMS multimedia messages propagate over radio channels of major mobile networks. In between, EMS, designed as a rich media extension of SMS, attempted to penetrate the market but without reaching the expected success. More than 100 operators have deployed MMS. Initial MMS offerings were limited to basic messaging features but now more advanced features are proposed for mobile users. Advanced features build-up from basic messaging functions to improve the user experience, from photo messaging to video messaging. MMS is still in its infancy and still has to meet the expectations of the mass market.

From 2002, a first MMS deployment has led to the roll-out of the service in many countries in all continents. This initial market opportunity for MMS relied mainly on the availability of color-screen phones with digital camera and the introduction of packet-based communications in mobile networks. Early MMS implementations allowed a mobile user to exchange multimedia messages not only with other mobile users but also with Internet users. Multimedia messages range from simple text messages to sophisticated messages comprising ...