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MMS native app storms the App Store

By Matt Radford on January 11, 2009

MMSI’ve been meaning to write about the options for picture messaging on the iPhone for a while, but that’s pointless now . A proper native MMS application was released on January 5th, and – unsurprisingly – it’s already the third most downloaded free app on the UK App Store.

I wrote in August that MMS sending was coming to your O2 iPhone. Ross McKillop wrote a web app (iPhoneMMS.net) that interfaced with O2; originally this just allowed viewing of messages, but was later expanded to include sending. He has now teamed up with Ed Lea, who wrote the highly-regarded TV Plus, to create a native version of the web app. And it’s superb.

Before I go on, let me just reiterate – it’s just for O2 iPhone users in the UK. For now.

MMS applicationOnce downloaded, just input your O2 phone number and MMS password. If you don’t have one, you receive the password in a text from O2 when you’re sent a MMS. You’re then presented with an Inbox, Drafts and Sent, plus an option to buy credit. You can reply, forward and save the images to your Photo Library. There’s more on the fuctionality in the FAQ. It all works beautifully.

Billing

Because this isn’t an app that’s made by O2, Ross and Ed have to sell MMS credit – so you’re not billed directly by O2. Credits are bought within the app using Paypal. There is some consternation in the reviews on the App Store about this, but it’s not something that can be rectified and keep the app for sale, according to Apple’s rules on inclusion for the App Store.

Limitations

There are some limitations, such as not being able to send video or audio, so it’s not full MMS. But given the iPhones’s own limitations, that’s not such a great problem as the phone cannot record video or audio or send saved files. Also, the app cannot currently send to a non-UK number.

If you’ve upgraded from the iPhoneMMS web app, then there are certain problems at the moment, such as existing MMS pictures not being visible.

They’ve had other service issues since they launched this week, which Ed and Ross have detailed in this forum post. These have resulted from both the huge popularity of the app and O2’s own servers having difficulties. Ross and Ed have already moved to a more capable server, and given the responsiveness that I’ve noticed from Ross before, I’m sure it won’t be long before they are sorted out. You can keep up to date with progress through their Twitter feed.

What’s Next?

Another native iPhone client is being developed by Mobispine, but this is a first for the App Store.

Before everyone gets too excited, this app is only available to iPhone users on O2 in the UK, but the developers do want to work with international carriers to bring this to their networks, and integrate it with their own billing systems.

Yes, it’s somewhat ridiculous that MMS capability should be news. But there we are – it’s better than no MMS, and it’s a polished application.

Get the MMS Photo Messaging app for free from the iTunes Store.

  • Leon

    Swirlymms?

    This is only really news for o2 iphone owners. Why? Because everyone else has a jailbroken iPhone and van download Swirlymms which is a full mms app which sends and receives pictures just like any mms app on any other phone would. It even allows receipt of .3gp video and has autoconfiguration setup for most network providers.

    The only downside is a one-off purchase of the app, but it’s cheaper than an App Store game.

    Seems like it’s genuine o2 users who lose out more than anyone, unless they’re willing to jailbreak.

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    I know SwirlyMMS is available, but the release of this app means that MMS is on the way for all iPhone users, not just those that are prepared to jailbreak.

  • Leon

    I’d like to think so, but is this REALLY mms?? Seems like a nicely packaged GUI masking what is essentially a weblink with a passcode.

    Swirly on the other hand functions exactly as an mms app should, pulling the mms and downloading it straight from/delivering to the message centre. It therefore allows you to take advantage of your tarif’s picture messaging allowance.

    This mms app breaks no new ground and is certainly not a ‘real’ mms solution. If it ever becomes one Apple will ban it from the App Store.

    On the plus side, I suspect that as Apple softens its approach to copyright infringement – removing DRM from its iTunes downloads- its programmers work on a firmware 3.0 iPhone release which will finally unleash Bluetooth and mms sharing.

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    You’re absolutely right – it doesn’t use the operator’s message centre, nor does it implement the full MMS protocol. But I don’t think it matters.

    There won’t be any consumer outrage over that – quite the opposite if you read the majority of reviews. People are just happy to have a working MMS solution, even if it isn’t perfect.

    This is a bit stupid though – we’re talking about MMS as if it’s some novelty feature. Hopefully firmware 3, which I hope will be a major release, will finally fix this omission.

  • Leon

    I genuinely think that people are happy with MMS Photo Messaging because they’re ignorant; and I don’t mean that in a bad way, but seriously – if people knew about Swirly would they REALLY want to use MMS Photo Messaging? It beggars belief for me.

    I genuinely think you SHOULD write about picture messaging on the iPhone: I’m sure it would be informative and would serve to educate people as to what the real options are if their world is entirely Out-of-box.

    The MMS Photo Messaging app is NOT the answer: the answer is to jailbreak and buy SwirlyMMS or wait till the summer firmware update.

    The fact that it doesn’t use the provider’s Message centre number and the true mms protocol DOES matter, for those who want REAL mms and have them included in their allowance. To me the simple use of MMS in the title and icon is ENTIRELY deceptive as this is just web based.

    Unfortunately the more ‘it’s the best we can hope for for now’ reviews this app gets (with NO mention of the stupendously superior alternative), the more money the developer of this ultimately fake and deceptive application makes.

    Free to download it might be, MMS it…not be.

  • chrsfrwll

    It’s a pity people take such a dim view of other people creating a free app that helps overcome one of the shortcomings of the iPhone. Not everyone wants to jailbreak their phone and as O2 (on whose network this app works, exclusively) doesn’t have an MMS package for the iPhone, this app provides a simple one stop shop for sending and viewing picture messages. OK, it’s marketed as the MMS solution, but so what if it isn’t real MMS. For the vast majority of UK O2 iPhone users that want to send and view their picture messages, this fits the bill and shouldn’t be slated just because it isn’t true MMS.

  • ares

    Vodafone here in Portugal launched an “mms app” on the appstore too…

  • http://www.allaboutiphone.net Matt Radford

    That’s good to hear. Was it launched by the carrier or by an independent developer? And does it enable video and audio as well?

  • ares

    was launched by the carrier

    AFAIK it only alows images…

    I can´t really test it, because i´m on Optimus, the other network with iphone here…

    Anyway, i bought Swirly MMS and it is certainly a more powerfull solution