News
Issue #2001 - 26 (June 2001)
(Updated June 27,  2001)

TECHNOLOGY

Multimedia Messaging Service - the next Mass-Market Service, says industry leaders

Envisioning a mobile world where individuals share experiences through multiform communication, from audio and video clips to photographs with text messaging, leading wireless companies took the first step to ensure that it becomes reality. 

CMG, Converse, Ericsson, Logica, Motorola, Nokia, and Siemens unveiled an initiative to ensure consistent global market development of the next generation wireless messaging - multimedia messaging service. 

Based on the tremendous popularity of SMS, with 15 billion messages in December 2000, alone, members of this initiative see MMS as a natural evolution of the SMS model. Adding new functionality and new content types in small steps that consumers will readily understand and enjoy, will lead to rapid adoption of the service, the companies say.

Each of the participating companies believes that MMS will be a key mass-market service for mobile operators, content providers, application developers, and advertisers. In addition to MMS being a key person-to-person service, it will also be the bearer of media content and other applications. 

The companies foresee such a multi-media service generating new revenue streams for 2.5/3 G players, just like SMS has done for the 2G sector.

Multimedia Messaging Service

• A 3GPP and WAP Forum standardized service
• Interoperates with existing mobile SMS devices and other messaging applications 
• Seamlessly integrates into existing services

By planning the implementation of MMS today, the companies hope to lay the foundation for early movers to take advantage of the next generation of technologies and applications.

For more information: http://press.nokia.com/PR/200106/825133_5.html

Mobileinfo Comments and Advisory: MMS will take a while. We are still in the SMS age. From SMS, we shall progress towards EMS and then towards MMS.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.