Bulk Direct MMS (with Operator MMS) Service - Not Currently Available

Overview

The MX Telecom MMS Gateway allows MMS messages to be sent and received using an HTTP interface. For customers familiar with Nokia's EAIF framework, an EAIF interface is also available.

Using the Bulk Direct MMS Service, MMS messages are sent through the MXT Virtual Multimedia Messaging Service Centre (Virtual MMSC), before being routed to the end user who pays for downloading the message. This option of sending Direct MMS is cheaper for content providers than the Operator MMS Service, as the end user bears the cost of downloading the MMS once it has been received.

Unlike a WAP Push, where the message received by an end user appears as a WAP Push SMS containing a URL from which the message can be downloaded, a Direct MMS appears on the end user's handset as an MMS, also containing the URL within it, from which the end user must download the message.

Direct MMS is not currently available with Orange or 3, who block this on their networks. To send MMS messages to Orange or 3 handsets therefore, the Bulk Operator MMS Service is used. This means that Bulk Operator MMS will be used automatically in place of Bulk Direct MMS when sending an MMS to a handset on the Orange or 3 networks.

Mobile number portability has created the problem that the prefix of a mobile number is no longer sufficient to determine which network a subscriber is on. The Bulk Direct MMS Service therefore involves a real time Network Lookup in order to determine the correct network of the end users handset for each MMS message sent through the MX Telecom MMS Gateway. Each MMS message is therefore sent using the correct Bulk MMS service (i.e. Bulk Operator MMS for end users on O2, Vodafone and T-Mobile, and Bulk Direct MMS for end users on Orange and 3).

Content purposing is possible with Direct MMS, which is done by the content provider or by the MX Telecom MMSC.

Process of sending Direct MMS

Bulk Direct MMS messages are sent to the MX Telecom MMS Gateway Virtual MMSC through the use of the HTTP or EAIF interface, before being delivered to the end user's handset.

Technical Setup

MMS messages can be sent through the MX Telecom MMS Gateway by making HTTP GET or Multipart POST requests.

Using the HTTP interface to send MMS, the .zip file contains the .smil file and each of the associated files of the different parts of the MMS, such as .gif and .jpeg files (the actual content of the MMS), along with a manifest file which describes the contents of the file, and parameters such as the mobile phone number and the originator address.

The .smil file controls the layout of the MMS (a little like html) and this is what is used to format the message. It pieces together the MMS files in the order that the end user would like them to appear and combines them into a single stream (so the message display is properly time coordinated and synchronised).

When submitting an HTTP GET or Multipart POST request to send an MMS, it is possible to send the MX Telecom MMS Gateway a URL to the .zip file, instead of submitting the .zip file itself.

Benefits of Direct MMS

• Cost to the content provider for sending MMS messages to end users' handsets is lower, as the end user pays for downloading messages where available.
  


• Fast transmission rates of messages, which are much higher than for Operator MMS (i.e. are equal to SMS Gateway transmission rates).

There are, however, some problems associated with MMS. For further details, see Known Issues with MMS.

Pricing

Due to unreliability issues associated with Direct MMS and certain UK mobile networks, this service is currently not on offer.

About MX Telecom MX Telecom is a leader in wireless technology. MX Telecom offers an easily accessible gateway to data, voice and video messaging services including 2-way and premium SMS, multimedia messaging, interactive voice response, location-based services, video short codes, Internet and TV related solutions. For more information, MX Telecom can be reached on 0845 666 7778, or via email at sales@mxtelecom.com.