AT&T is playing around with some “wireless network caching” methods that may trickle down into how iPhone users experience sending multimedia messages. The surprising thing, it’s not new technology.
We first started hearing about something similar about a week ago, however remained hesitant to report it until we learned anything substantial. After a few emails back and forth and some genuinely curious phone calls, we’ve been able to get a grasp of how AT&T may offer true MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) for iPhone users. “It would involve sending each other links, instead of images. Person A sends a link of an image that has been compressed and “cached” (for lack of a better word), to Person B, who can then view the image in a browser.” Given the current functionality in Apple’s Mobile Safari browser, this definitely seems plausible. Currently, it is possible to save images in Mobile Safari by simply holding a particular image down for about two seconds and selecting “Save Image.” So we know the functionality is there.
The problem with sending full images from iPhone to iPhone is the lack of native support to viewing images. Users have to visit external web pages and write down lengthy passwords to view simple images that were sent by others. Without copy-and-paste, this is nearly impossible, and has become a rather large burden iPhone owners try and avoid.
With “network caching”, it seems that AT&T would just be automating what is happening now, only without passwords and all the nonsense in between. Essentially, after you take a photo with your iPhone, you will be able to send it through to another user as simply as sending an SMS message. They will receive a link, instead of a picture, and they can then view and save that image.
After doing some research and corroborating with a few people on what this could potentially mean, from a core usability and computer science efficiency standpoint, a proposition dated back to 2005, titled “Network Cache Model for Wireless Proxy Caching” may be applicable.
We propose a wireless network cache model to facilitate the cooperative proxy caching in wireless base stations A self-configured and adaptive virtual proxy graph (VPG) is used to achieve efficient data search, data cache and date replication Based on demand, the aggregate effect of data caching, searching and replicating actions by individual proxies automatically distributes cached web documents closer to the interested mobile clients Our performance study demonstrates that the proposed individual-based wireless proxy caching scheme outperforms existing caching schemes in terms of different performance metrics
The image would expire after 48 hours or so from the network’s “cache”, and thus would only remain on the original iPhone’s hard drive (the one that took the photo). Expiration and deleting of the cached images on AT&T’s servers, which may reside on their wireless network, would free up unnecessary stress through the entire process.
Why this functionality is still lacking from the iPhone is undoubtedly aggravating. Along with other fundamental features like copy-and-paste, it seems like Apple and AT&T may be trying to reinvent the wheel over and over again. Even though this does leave us rather frustrated while waiting for simple features, if the user experience ends up being as fluid as we’d like to imagine, it may be worth it.
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29 Comments to “AT&T Playing Around With iPhone MMS Possibility, Wireless Network “Caching””
This seems like a sensible plan. Unless this costs extra for the end user, I can see this going over well (if it ever comes to fruition that is).
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This still doesn’t solve the issue of someone sending me an mms from a non iPhone ?
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Ryan, from my understanding, this is the first step in allowing iPhones to view MMS messages without going through all of the nonsense involved right now. If the “caching” works as suggested, and actually gets deployed, then it may entirely be intertwined with other phones on the same network. When it comes to phones outside of AT&T’s network is where I am kind of getting confused.
I’m trying to figure out everything I can.
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MMS is stupid. You can mail photos from your iPhone and you can receive MMS messages from other phones (just have users use yourcellphonenumber@txt.att.com).
With Push Email, why even have SMS on the iPhone (for $5-20 per month!)
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I’d rather use MMS if it was faster and worked better than emailing a photo.
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Wow.
“we’ve been able to get a grasp of how AT&T may offer true MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) for iPhone users.”
“The problem with sending full images from iPhone to iPhone is the lack of native support to viewing images. Users have to visit external web pages and write down lengthy passwords to view simple images that were sent by others. Without copy-and-paste, this is nearly impossible, and has become a rather large burden iPhone owners try and avoid.”
How does ANY of that pass the BS test?
First off, if AT&T wanted to offer “true MMS for iPhone users” they could simply stop blocking MMS on iPhone accounts and give Apple the green-light to green-light SwirlyMMS for the App Store. AT&T actively BLOCKS MMS on iPhone accounts. Take your SIM out of an iPhone and pop it into another MMS capable phone. IT WILL NOT SEND MMS messages. Further, if you take a working SIM from a buddy’s AT&T phone that does MMS, plug it into an iPhone, and use SwirlyMMS for about 15 minutes, your buddy will now be left with a SIM with deactivated MMS and require a phone call to AT&T to ask for forgiveness.
As for a lack of “native support” on the iPhone to view images…well double wow. I think the article -means- to state “lack of native support of viewing images IN THE SMS APP.” Clearly many other messaging apps have figured out how to support inline image viewing, outside of Safari: Tweetie, Palringo, Mail, etc. This isn’t an insurmountable problem with the iPhone, this is a basic coding omission by Apple. And with something so basic, it would be INCREDIBLE to place the blame the lack of functionality on Apple’s programming prowess. Copy and Paste shouldn’t even be required, outside of AT&T’s idiocy.
This whole MMS debacle is a political issue, clear and simple. Apple is trying to push the progress of the state of the art with cell phones. SMS/MMS is a technological joke: never designed for the current use; poorly-used in the day of always-on internet access; but a cash cow HERD for the crooked, greedy, behemoth telecoms. SMS/MMS needs to be repurposed, but AT&T is simply not willing to let go of the revenue stream. SMS should be the PUSH channel it was intended, and handsets should be acting on messages they receive, using their net connections to PULL subsequent content (which is, incidently, how MMS actually works!). The SMS channel should be considered a free partner to the EDGE/3G pipe. This is a game of “Blink” and we the consumers are stuck in the middle. AT&T can try to hide the truth with techno-mumbo-jumbo like caching and copy/paste, however the simple explanation is they’re about to give in.
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@Scott: “Take your SIM out of an iPhone and pop it into another MMS capable phone. IT WILL NOT SEND MMS messages.”
I think this quote from your comment pretty much proves this article right, hence it’s directly targeted at iPhone users. Ever think of that?
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No, you are missing the POINT of my quote. AT&T SPECIFICALLY blocks MMS messages where the iPhone is in-use, even on user plans who are paying for MMS. There -are- third party MMS solutions available to jailbroken phones (SwirlyMMS).
Perhaps a bit more info is due on how MMS works: if you use a MMS-capable handset (say a RAZR) to take a pic and send it via MMS to my Sony Ericsson handset, you don’t push down the pic! Opposite an email, where the image is attached and enclosed in the message, an MMS message is a special SMS that contains additional information about where to retrieve the data which is done via data services. You don’t necessarily have to have a data plan to make this work, but at the core the phone is doing WAP fetches. The Messaging App on the handset is responsible for receiving the MMS and then retrieving the data. On the iPhone, the SMS App has that responsibility. It is the component that “gets the call” after a SMS message is received, and therefore it would need to be expanded to properly handle the MMS information. That isn’t rocket science, and is well within Apple’s capability. The fact it DOESN’T, one must ask themselves “Why would Apple purposefully withhold really simple functionality?”
My point in the comment above was that it is lunacy to believe that Apple was unable to grok MMS. The functionality has been provided by other software and is working on other telecoms ON THE iPHONE. So you’re right, the article is right that AT&T is targeting iPhone users, however the you (and other readers are) WRONG to then illogically assume that the technology in question is REQUIRED for MMS to work on the iPhone. AT&T is using a misdirection tactic by mentioning MMS on the iPhone in relation to the Caching technology to create that false idea to mask the political fight that is really going on.
AT&T is specifically targeting iPhone users because Apple is targeting AT&T old-fashioned ways. No network caching or other such nonsense is required to break the stalemate.
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Why would AT&T and other mobile carriers want to block one of their revenue streams?
Scott, I mostly believe that copy and paste is missing due to interface inconsistency issues which Apple is trying to sort out. See here: http://www.macblogz.com/2008/07/07/copy-and-paste-still-missing-in-iphone-blame-apple%e2%80%99s-obsessive-nature/
Second, native support in the SMS app? Don’t you mean the MMS app that’s non-existent? The information above comes from someone who has hands on experience with deleting the “Cached” reserves so the information doesn’t need to pass the BS test… as you state.
Additionally, iPhone tethering, copy-and-paste and MMS are all core functionality issues that need to be presented in a light, methodical way. To blame it all on political or bureaucratic issues is silly. People would may monthly for tethering, people would want MMS, and people are demanding copy-and-paste. There are technical issues here, whether they be involved with how Apple and AT&T handle support or not… They are hindering technical issues.
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Copy/Paste is a technical issue. I agree. Apple isn’t withholding it because they don’t like AT&T or you. However, since the Newton had Copy/Paste, and the Palm, and now the Blackberry, and the new Palm Pre, the excuses are looking pretty stupid.
Tethering is NOT a technical issue, at least not so much as technical to accomplish. AT&T is withholding it because up to this point most phones didn’t make it easy enough to do and most users weren’t buying an “Unlimited” data plan with every handset. Apple went lock step because it freed them up to do other things, guilt free. Evidence the release of the tethering app to the iTunes store some time back; it was removed because it violated AT&T’s User Agreement (something that should NOT affect iPhone Devs). When every device has an “unlimited” data plan, selling a handset with Bluetooth tethering that can be easily selected from the BT menu in OS X would have absolutely strained AT&T’s resources. Criminy the iPhone alone strained the AT&T data network like never before. Adding Tethering will likely really hurt AT&T’s network, technically.
As for this MMS mess, you continue to act as though somehow the iPhone is some very special device that lives outside the normal cellphone world. It isn’t. I didn’t say MMS app, because the SMS app on the iPhone is the app that is passed inbound SMS messages by default. Just like on a Sony, or a Moto, or a Nokia, there is a Messaging app that is running and gets passed the inbound messages. I suggest you jailbreak your phone and play with SwirlyMMS a bit. When you install it, it “takes over” for SMS.app. How does all this super-duper “”cached” reserves” get deleted with other handsets? Monkeys? Robots with lasers? Outsourcing? (I vote outsourcing.) Once you understand how MMS messaging really works, you’ll understand how goofy the omission is.
The fact that AT&T deals with the iPhone differently proves to me there is a political problem here, otherwise why not just tell Apple “Hey, either make it work with the standard or we’ll go somewhere else to have it done?” Look, there are other apps that can handle incoming MMS. There are other apps that can handle Picture and Sound messaging. Natively. On the iPhone. They don’t REQUIRE Safari, and some are available from the iTunes store.
Sometimes, when all the technical problems seem to wither away, you just have to understand that politics and bureaucracies can create SILLY issues. This is one of them. And Apple is KING of doing silly things for absolutely, stupendously, ridiculously silly reasons. And then lying about it. Blatantly. I know, I’ve been there when they’ve done it.
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I don’t see what’s new here. The only thing that is being reported is that AT&T is actively testing or using this method (caching) and it’s not available for iPhone people. That’s it. Why is this hard to believe again?
iPhone users are a special bread, and cell carriers know that. They will nickel and dime you guys for everything. Everything ! Wake up already ! Stop demanding things and waiting endlessly for these idiotic features.
It’s not worth it.
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Apple and AT&T really need to fix the terrible user experience using MMS on the iPhone in the US. I make the case here: http://blog.mcmanus-family.com/2008/09/the-case-for-mms-on-the-iphone.html
Really, we need full MMS support. What you describe above is a big step forward for receiving MMS, but (if I understand it right) a step backward for sending them. If I send a photo to someone with a RAZR (for example) they will get a LINK? Weird. They should get an MMS!
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@Drew: Agreed. It would need to carry over into other devices and mobile phones. But, I wouldn’t put it past AT&T to make something like this (regarding iPhone MMS) “iPhone exclusive” — or, adversely make the other mobile devices go through an awful process to get the image.
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Some notes:
MMS is still necessary for those phones without a data plan.
MMS is push, but uses no extra battery while waiting unlike email.
MMS requires just knowledge of a phone number.
ATT is not the world. It’s clear that Apple is the one who doesn’t want MMS for some reason. Moreover, the current method of getting them on the iPhone is a horrible kludge that should be beneath a supposed UI giant. Other carriers are now at least creating mini-apps that make retrieving the photos easier.
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Incorrect on two points:
*MMS requires a data connection (WAP), but doesn’t necessarily require a data plan. Carriers filter usage of the data service to not charge for MMS usage (ask users about having to make Customer Service calls regarding spurious data usage chargers related to MMS). If your phone shows a Data access icon when you surf the web, watch for it when you get MMS messages. My Sony Ericsson displays it.
*MMS is NOT push at the receive side, where the term “push” is typically used. It is “store and forward” and “fetch”, just like email. Then again, “push mail” is rarely “push”ed anywhere.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia_Messaging_Service
Basically what happens in a MMS transaction:
1. SENDER snaps pic/sound and attaches it to a “text” Message.
2. SENDER sends message to RECEIVER phone number
3. SENDER’s handset’s MESSAGING_APP encapsulates the ATTACHMENT and sends it via the SMS channel to the SENDER_CARRIER MMS_RELAY (if you want to call this “push” okay…but it isn’t by definition)
4. SENDER_CARRIER MMS_RELAY determines if the RECEIVER is local or not:
4a. if yes, it stays
4b. if not the MESSAGE is relayed to RECEIVER_CARRIER MMS_RELAY (usually using the Net)
5. the RECEIVER_CARRIER MMS_RELAY decodes the message and stores the ATTACHMENT on a HTTP webserver
6. RC_MMS_RELAY sends a special SMS to RECEIVER that includes the URL of where to FETCH the ATTACHMENT
7. RECEIVER’s handset’s MESSAGING_APP receives the URL from SMS “control message”, FETCHES ATTACHMENT via WAP (data service), and displays it
8. RECEIVER MESSAGING_APP sends response message back to RC_MMS_RELAY saying “thanks”
No magic. No pushing of content.
In fact, MMS is an example of how the SMS service SHOULD BE USED for PUSH services. And I think this is likely why Apple’s “Push” technology has magically disappeared. Apple likely wants to use SMS to push free and unlimited control messages to a Queue Manager on the iPhone. Apps could register with the Queue Manager and “subscribe” to various services. Every time that “service” needs to “tickle” the phone to update, a free SMS gets sent. AT&T doesn’t want to give SMS away for “free”; Apple wants them to in lieu of the users paying $30/month for a Data Plan. AT&T stands to lose MILLIONS: take every iPhone on AT&T’s network and -subtract- the messaging plan cost and then -increase- data usage.
Apple is right, that’s the way it will work in the future. AT&T is protecting their money-printing-machine and embracing the status quo. (See the recent New York Times article regarding the cost vs/ price of SMS to the carriers. Summary: cost = $0, price = $0.25, profit = $$$$$$$$$)
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See the recent New York Times article regarding the cost vs/ price of SMS to the carriers. Summary: cost = $0, price = $0.25, profit = $$$$$$$$$)
Now _that_ is BS
It’s like saying there’s no cost for an owner of a road that you drive there. Hence you shouldn’t have to pay taxes, toll or similar.
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This is still not true MMS. MMS is MULTIMEDIA MESSAGING. There are more forms for media besides pictures in MMS. What if someone sends me a picture with sound or a GIF????
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So I can send a picture to my wife’s cell phone, not an iPhone… She selects to view the link… GREAT! Now i have to pay the for a data plan for her Razr… NO THANKS! Compress the image on the phone to MMS standards and send as is… This is STUPID!
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Dude, you’re right. It’s not MMS, it’s PMS, Picture Media Messaging!
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When I bought my iPhone I just assumed that it could do MMS. It wasn’t even a forethought. I was floored when I found out that MMS messaging was not possible on the iPhone. Also that stupid multimedia website that you get directed to when receiving an MMS message is ridiculous. I refuse to accept the fact that the iPhone in all its glory can’t do what any .99 cent free camera phone can do today right out of the box. Also, Scott in his previous post above is absolutely right, AT&T is blocking MMS on the iPhone. And for those who say just send pictures via email? The only problem is that not all people with cell phones have data plans and can or want to receive email via their cell phone. For as much as we paid for the iPhone and its voice and data plans, we should have the ability to decide if we want to use MMS or not. This MMS network cache thing sounds like more AT&T work around bull crap that I’m sure they will charge us for.
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Why not just give us MMS by having our MMS images automatically forwarded as an email to an address we configure? I already get MMS by telling people to send (from their phones) MMS using my email address instead. It seems easier on resources to simply have all mms sent do the phone forwarded to configured email.
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An App named Fetch just hit the store, it’s kind of a frontend for the link/random username/random password system you’re forced to use now. It’s kinda expensive @ $5 and a little awkward to get the hang of but it’s the best App I’ve paid for yet!
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The inory is my HTC with Windows Mobile supports MMS (an old technology). However the business model Microsoft generally works with is WE BUILD THE SOFTWARE YOU DEAL WITH THE HARDWARE. Apple on the other hand says we build great hardware, and fantastically simple software as a base for you to enrich. You see Apple allows thrid-party companies to provide ‘lacking’ software. What this does is it gets more companies in bed with Apple (knowingly or not). In doing so there is a need for these companies to push their technology and then the Apple tech as well. This creates a web of dependancies and therefore you tend to stick with Apple because of all the value adds.
The reason the iPhone doesn’t have MMS properly is because 1) the US is very behind on mobile tech and 2) no one has really tried properly yet. There is this hope that Apple will do it. Some how I don’t think they will.
The other thing is who cares about MMS + SMS etc. when you can invent something better something cheaper. We have basically a base to work from you have a device that has a strong data connection and you just wana use sms and mms… that seems backwards.
SMS was the networks first try at simple data, then MMS followed by making that better and now finally through all the steps we have 3G (now already a pretty mature technology). The first two were released to keep us happy but that is all they were is plugs. They weren’t meant to stay. So get with it and stop trying to get a old tech into something new and great. I don’t see anyone complaining that the iPhone doesn’t have a stiffy drive
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This is ridiculous. Apple needs to fix this MMS issue properly. Links will not cut it! It is embarassing that my multiple hundred dollar, state-of-the-art iPhone cannot perform a basic messaging feature that a $29 flip phone can!
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I switched from Sprint to ATT the other day and got an Iphone 3G. 2 days later I received a text from my friend with the a message that stated. “I sent you a multimedia message. You can view my message w/in the next 7 days view the web at http://www.viewmymessage.com/en/legacy/login.jsp” There was then in the same message a username and password. Once I clicked on that link I put the username and password in and it brought me to the picture. Ever since that day I have never received another one. Several people have tried to send me pics and I have not received anything. Has anyone else seen this? Just curious as to why a few days after activation it seemed to work and just under a week later it hasnt worked anymore.. Odd
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After 2.5 hours in the ATT store arguing with the store manager about the fact that I was NOT receiving MMS messages that friends and family were sending me ( not even a link ) the manager called his tech support and was told that I was not getting the MMS messages because I was on the Family Texting Plan and the MMS messages were intentionally blocked by the server. He switched me to an individual messaging plan and immidiately I started getting the MMS messages ( links to a website to get the message) So ATT is forcing me to choose an individual plan with a monthly limit of messages as compared to the family unlimited plan.
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I have an I phone and the web link does not work for multimedia messaging. I’ve even tried it on a desktop and a laptop. The site is shits.
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During beta testing for 3.0 MMS is live. It involves a few simple changes to the carrier file and a call to ATT to lift the ATT MMS OPT out. However good luck with that cause it nearly impossible for most.
In fact apples itunes was moved from 8.1.2 (I may have sited the version wrong, sorry) to 8.2 to fix ATT Carrier file hacking that would enable the phones native support. The problem is some people report issues with visual voice mail after. So you are left with no visual voice mail and no mms if you stay with att after the carrier hack.
There is no need for a 3rd party app apple iPhone native support is just fine it att who will not admit that there network can handle the traffic or if it cant they don’t want to have to.
My final thoughs are this is crap. I think they are still trying to hold on to the old way to keep up with support with apples lack of native support with the first generation iPhone. So in order to make everyone happy and no one left out they have been testing this work around. That my thought and opinion. FU ATT drop support for the first gen give apple the green light to edit the carrier files push the updates and let us have our MMS firmware 3.0 for 3G iPhone nativity supports it you stupid POS.
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