MMS / SMS: Tricks of large messages

For many years GSM-operators around the world in vain waiting for long-promised "explosive" growth in the popularity of multimedia messaging. From time to time, even attempts to artificially this very explosion of popularity stimulate. This time, take care of its subscribers decided to MTS, announcing on August 1 share "MMS SMS costs until the end of summer", ie for $ 0.07 (c VAT) until 31 August inclusive.

MMS / SMS: Tricks of large messages
Description of the MTS can be found here, the 7-cent billing of MMS-messages applies to all tariff plans. Pesky exceptions exist, but this just below. Similar actions from time to time undertake other operators from the latest initiatives - ruble MMS-messages in MegaFon-Moscow to re-connect in April. Same here - very similar to today's share of MTS Month cheap MMS (for 99 cents) from 15 May to 15 June in MegaFon, our detailed material about the purpose and origin of these charitable distributions MMS-traffic can be read here. Permit ourselves to quote from this material is three months old:

Intranet 'essence MMS - another disorder, communication between networks of different operators did not go. Interworking MMS now more or less adjusted, although the guaranteed delivery of MMS in someone else's network yet can not speak. This "ruble" MMS-action MegaFon is just aimed at dramatically increasing MMS-audience, but the effect would be ten times more in the case of "symmetric" response to this initiative from the Beeline and MTS. It is strange that the operators were unable or unwilling to agree on concerted action in this field.

The current stock of MTS to a pain similar to the June MegaFon (unless it is "promotional" MMS twice as expensive), and again we must note with regret insulting inconsistency in the actions of the operators. The joint action of all the "Big Three" would have been a few times more efficient, but does not want to negotiate. Why do not they want - clear, established after a striking unanimity of up fee of 50 cents.

MMS / SMS: Tricks of large messages

Practical exercises

Try to assess the efficiency of inter-network multimedia messaging, and at the same time slightly poreklamiruem this service, which has turned language not be called "modern." In the process of practical development of this really is not such a sophisticated service have been sent and received 200 pieces of MMS-messages, which allows us to more or less clear-cut statistics. Overall impressions are very positive: the quality of images embedded camera phones today can not be compared with samples of two years ago, and around us so many interesting and fun! It would wish to linger for a dozen seconds for a curious picture.

Customizing Terminal in most cases without difficulty, but rather order the settings on the site or in abonsluzhbe operator and receive SMS-message with autotuning. Somewhat worse than is the case with a relatively new phone models that are sometimes necessary to work handles and enter the required parameters in the device itself. Certified Pre-often sold already preloaded with settings and all activity comes to choosing a profile with the "right" operator - as was the case with the phone Samsung SGH-X820.

MMS / SMS: Tricks of large messages
The situation with the delivery of MMS between networks has improved dramatically, even compared with last spring, nedostavok hardly mentioned. Message delivery time from the network to 90% of cases was less than two minutes, a delay of half an hour - 40 minutes we can safely assume no exception. When you reach the phone (off or out of the network) the message is delivered as an SMS with a link to Web-page of the site operator where they can view the message. Sometimes with a short "unavailable" phone overlaps, but preferably two posts than none.

MMS / SMS: Tricks of large messages
Seemingly simple service is web-browsing can be implemented in different ways. For example, on the MTS to the user organized Inbox, to come and things are not delivered on the mobile phone pictures, if necessary, all images can then view - it is convenient. But MTS subscriber to the site are not delivered to any text message, or sender's phone number, just an anonymous picture or photo. In SMS-notification number of the sender is also absent. Perhaps such a phenomenon exists a reasonable explanation, but I do not fancy enough. Into a megaphone with the letters / numbers all right, but keep a collection of MMS on the site will not work, there is a world of perfection. In Beeline look at www-hypostasis MMS-messages and failed to sent MMS or normally delivered to the phone, or not delivered at all. May just be unlucky.

MMS / SMS: Tricks of large messages
With the size of MMS sent all right, which existed earlier limit of 100 KB is no longer relevant. Multiple-message with a few shots weighing 140-160 kb confidently moving between different networks. Another thing is that not all phones are able to send and receive large amounts. All is not well with the compatibility of audio and video codecs from different manufacturers, transmitted voice recorder and video recording is not always possible to reproduce. But with the text problems were noted and the transfer of long messages MMS is often cheaper than gluing of several SMS.

MMS / SMS: Tricks of large messages

Tricky i-mode

Tariffication of MMS-messages in the standard - separate song. It turns out that the conditions of the tariff plan for these phones do not apply, but extends to the advertised event "MMS at the price of SMS". In the case of i-mode fixed-price for sending MMS does not exist, is charged only traffic. Accordingly, the cost of sending a message varies very widely: from a couple of cents per text MMS to a third of the dollar for the photograph of a tolerable quality. Financial control of MTS dwells on this subject in some disarray, and claims will be accepted: suddenly crafty person has submitted not one, but five of MMS-messages in a row? They have something they see only the total traffic per session. Incidentally, the MTS could and specify this in the service contract, technical experts are well aware of this particular implementation of sending MMS phones i-mode. Lack of mass claims can be easily explained: when a message size of 100 kb Price Traffic will be close to the officially declared value of sending MMS, can not complain at that. However, within semitsentovoy MMS-stock bust in pricing will be obvious, nothing in the MTS hesitate to specify non-participation "imodnyh" phones in the circumstances.On the issue rating received MMS is similar to i-mode it just decided: sent (at least from other networks) MMS-messages to the subscriber with the phone is not getting through, and sent direct transit to the site of MTS. Anyway I have not been able to adopt a single message to your phone. No MMS - no problems with billing.

However, every cloud has a silver lining, send images of small size (about 35 kb) with i-mode phones will be cheaper SMS and after the campaign. Not to mention the word MMS-messages, write at least until the blisters on his fingers. In general, i-mode - a thing in itself, and here we can expect any surprises. The description on the website of MTS stated that "fares are valid on 31 March 2006", so we count half as semi-legally consume this remarkable technology at current rates.

MMS / SMS: Tricks of large messages

Crimson SMS to Beeline

Not quite in the topic MMS, but still the same message, though not multimedia. Learn more about "bonus for each message sent, you can read on the website" Malina ", the most funded program we wrote in early April. Quoting an official press release of the company: "In August Beeline subscribers receive on your account in" Malina "1 point for every sent SMS-message. At the end of June 2006 one million Muscovites, or more than 500 thousand families have become parties program "Malina." week to join her 50,000 customers. "

The phrase "a bonus" sounds good, but it will be interesting to determine the actual size of the reward. A cursory study of the catalog of gifts and a bonus equivalent to a comparison with the average prices can estimate the cost of crimson joy: depending on the category prize weighted average price of a bonus is in the range of 10-15 cents. Ie in the case of gifts is found in the directory you really need something, you can enjoy a conditional discount of 5-7% for SMS-messages in August. For active users of SMS-packet size of the discount will be a little more. To ensure safe arrival of bonuses at the expense so far failed to promise to three business days after sending the SMS. Why is "working" - a riddle, not by hand as they enroll?

MMS / SMS: Tricks of large messages
With regard to discounts / shares in the multimedia message, here's news of interest to the Beeline is not visible. In the not yet released a new student rate "Boltologiya" we are promised "favorable prices for SMS, WAP, Internet, and do not write about MMS. However, wait and see.

ps Most of the illustrations are taken from the messages sent and received MMS-messages, for which separate their respective authors thank