MMS is a multimedia messaging service and has created a revolution in the messaging method. MMS provides an entire multimedia experience of photos, text, pictures, animations, audio and speech. By using the MMS, the mobile users can send their multimedia messages from their multimedia enabled mobile handset to other email and mobile users. With the MMS technology the mobile users can receive multimedia messages from mobile users, multimedia enabled applications and email users. MMS can support audio formats like WAV, MIDI and MP3. MMS is also used for sending Video clips of a movie or show to other mobiles.



MMS functions in a way similar to SMS. A SMS contain text messages with minimum character limits. But a MMS can send messages with more text capacity. SMS has limitations like only pictures and text can be sent. MMS is user friendly as you can send audio and video clips with text. It provides you advantages like by using MMS you can receive certain MMS messages after your working hours. Older mobile handsets will not have the MMS support and so you cannot have the MMS technology inbuilt in them. Recently introduced handsets of Sony Ericcson, LG and Nokia companies are Multimedia Message Service enabled. The price of these mobile sets has also been reduced significantly. All the service providers have also started to offer MMS to their customers. MMS is used by all the mobile users and has reached similar acceptance level like SMS.

MMS provides the user complete multimedia knowledge and is definitely going to increase the mobile communication usage. Many in the communication industry, for networks of 2.5 G and 3G, consider MMS as one of the biggest potential moneymakers. It is a standard telephony messaging system that allows transferring messages containing multimedia objects like video, audio and objects along with text messages as in SMS. MMS is mainly used in mobile networks along with similar messaging systems like Mobile Instant Messaging, SMS etc. In today's context, MMS is considered as best and proven messaging technology and it has surpassed Electronic mail and SMS. The penetration of MMS was slow and though it was introduced into the market way back in 2002. In the recent years it has attained mass-market acceptance. By improving its technology, MMS has reached wide adoption by major market players as it offers them greater business opportunity in the whole telecommunication market. Short Message Service or SMS is transformed in full form as MMS. With the MMS technology in a mobile handset, the mobile user need not confine his messages to text only. MMS is designed to operate with GPRS, 1x/EVDO mobile packet data services.

MMS enables a large number of applications used for private communication, business, entertainment and information. MMS is delivered in two modes and they are immediate and deferred. You can take a snapshot using your camera phone and send the image by using MMS to your friend with animated picture messages. You can also send your favorite audio files and can also do simultaneous playback advertising. MMS faces lot of challenges like bulk messaging, distribution lists, WAP Push, handset configuration and content adaptation. MMS is different from EMS that is Enhanced Messaging service that is SMS with additional capabilities. MMS is going to be used as community-based communication method in the future years.