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AppleGirl1990 · Jul 21, 2008, 04:31 PM

I see that I can take a photo on my iPhone and email it, but how can i attach a picture to a text message?

jorgem4 · Jul 21, 2008, 04:41 PM

Sorry... iPhone can't do that yet...

64stang06 · Jul 21, 2008, 06:52 PM

Nope. I was hoping for v2, but maybe v3.

Big Mac · Jul 21, 2008, 06:59 PM

What makes this feature so difficult to implement that Apple can't deliver it even now?

Stogieman · Jul 21, 2008, 07:00 PM

I'm surprised a third party vendor hasn't released an MMS app yet.

AppleGirl1990 · Jul 21, 2008, 07:53 PM

Your posts confirm what i was really hoping wasn't the case. WOW. I can't believe this phone can't sent pictures via text message. I've been doing that for years now with a far inferior phone. What an oversight on Apple's part. WOW.

stevesnj · Jul 21, 2008, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by Stogieman

I'm surprised a third party vendor hasn't released an MMS app yet.

Maybe Apple wont allow it?

64stang06 · Jul 21, 2008, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

Maybe Apple wont allow it?

Either that or AT&T.

Cincojoe · Jul 21, 2008, 11:42 PM

because apple is lame. Come on. Really how difficult can it be? And how about cut and paste?

Randman · Jul 22, 2008, 12:46 AM

Cut and paste should be there. Not sure about MMS. Just send an email.

GuyWithACamera · Jul 22, 2008, 12:59 AM

Is there a way to "share" a photo in a MobileMe gallery via an email? Either a url or better yet, a linked thumbnail would would work for me. Wishful thinking?

AppleGirl1990 · Jul 22, 2008, 07:50 AM

Email isn't good enough. Not everyone is at their computer all day long. and most phone users have a 'simple' phone with no email. So the iPhone needs text messaging the same way i need to go pee right now. bye.

Simon · 08:54 AM

In Apple's opinion MMS is redundant once you have regular email.

If you cannot agree with that you should not get an iPhone.

Mastrap · Jul 22, 2008, 08:48 AM

Picture MMS is yesterday's technology. Like the floppy drive in the original iMac it's been dropped.

Geofries · Jul 22, 2008, 09:46 AM

How is it yesterdays technology when the average person has an "average" phone that does not use email? I'm an Apple fan, yet I can perform independent thought. Apple is not God. No MMS is simply ridiculous.

Simon · Jul 22, 2008, 09:49 AM

When the iMac came out every computer had a floppy drive too. In a couple of years every phone will have email. And nobody will miss MMS. Just like nobody asks for a floppy drive today.

Geofries · Jul 22, 2008, 09:56 AM

Very true Simon. I do agree that in say, 5 years or so, email on phones will be standard. My gripe is taking away an option unnecessarily when you encounter daily use for said option. Everyone in my family has a cell phone. I am the only one of 6 with email on my phone. See where I am getting with this?

I understand that it's not about one individual, and that the phone will sell in droves regardless. That still does not excuse the over-sight.

Simon · Jul 22, 2008, 10:13 AM

I see what you're saying. But it sounds exactly like what people were saying about the iMac's missing FDD. I'm not saying you can't miss MMS (and if you need it you should definitely not get an iPhone!), but I think Apple has simply decided it's history. I tend to agree. Eventually that will be the case.

MacosNerd · Jul 22, 2008, 10:20 AM

Ok, I'm an idiot but isn't text messaging used to send text messages? If I want to send pictures, I email no?

CorpITGuy · Jul 22, 2008, 10:32 AM

Apple tends to lead the way on these sorts of things. As folks have already mentioned, the floppy drive on the iMac is a perfect example of this. However, someone has to take the lead. Otherwise, progress wouldn't just come slow.... it wouldn't come at all.

As PPs have said, if you need MMS, the iPhone isn't for you.

AppleGirl1990 · Jul 22, 2008, 11:51 AM

Nerd, just because it's called a 'text message' doesn't mean you cannot have pictures included. Next time you stop at a gas station, don't even think about stoping in the c-store.

anthology123 · Jul 22, 2008, 12:00 PM

Apple is not that stupid, they focus group the iPod and iPhone to death. If enough people really felt that MMS was an important feature, it would be there. I am sure based on demand, there are probably over 1000 functions people would like to see in an iPhone. Just like they had reasons not to put an analog radio receiver in the iPod.

Cincojoe · Jul 22, 2008, 01:02 PM

You Apple fanboys amaze me. You will go to no end to defend Apple even on the simplest things. Yes the iPhone is great, I wouldn't give mine away for anything. But to not include cut and paste and sending photos in a text message is just STUPID. Sure you can use email, but we are a long way from email being common on cell phones. Just include and leave it up to us if we want to use it.

analogika · Jul 22, 2008, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by AppleGirl1990

Nerd, just because it's called a 'text message' doesn't mean you cannot have pictures included. Next time you stop at a gas station, don't even think about stoping in the c-store.

Messages with pictures aren't "text messages", they're MMS messages, and are usually listed as such on your bill (they're WAAAY too expensive!).

Yes, MMS is "yesterday's technology" - but, until ordinary people have e-mail-enabled (not meaning that the phone can do it, but that it's not such a fricking NIGHTMARE that the user won't ever bother, as is the case on every single non-smartphone on the market), there is no substitute for immediate image delivery.

Randman · Jul 22, 2008, 01:08 PM

I'm surprised no app.store app hasn't jumped on this bandwagon, even if it is so 2000.

Geofries · Jul 22, 2008, 01:13 PM

And that brings me to my other gripe: iPhone users will probably end up paying to enable a feature standard on 99% of other handsets.

bballe336 · Jul 22, 2008, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

Messages with pictures aren't "text messages", they're MMS messages, and are usually listed as such on your bill (they're WAAAY too expensive!).

In most of america you pay the same for both, on my plan it's $15 a month for unlimited SMS and MMS messages, including video messages.

MacosNerd · Jul 22, 2008, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by AppleGirl1990

Next time you stop at a gas station, don't even think about stoping in the c-store.

When I stop at a gas station, I get gas, nothing else (maybe windshield wiper fluid), so don't worry, I won't even think about a c-store because I have no idea what that is.

shrink · 06:42 PM

You can send picture messages from the iPhone. It just takes an extra step. Using an email account, send the picture directly to the cell phone using this format: 10-digit number @ service provider's MMS address. Here's a list of some of the US provider's MMS addresses:

Alltel = [email protected]
Amp'd Mobile = [email protected]
AT&T = [email protected]
Boost Mobile = [email protected]
Centennial Wireless = [email protected]
Cingular (AT&T) = [email protected]
Einstein PCS = [email protected]
Nextel = [email protected]
Sprint = [email protected] or [email protected]
T-Mobile = [email protected]
US Cellular = [email protected]
Verizon Wireless = [email protected]
Virgin Mobile = [email protected]

MMS is just a way to bring a form of e-mail to a cell phone. I personally find it a bit out of date with the iPhone and other smartphones. To receive a picture from someone without a smartphone, just have them send the file to your e-mail address instead of your phone number.

It's a pain but it can be addressed by you and your friends updating your address books.

freudling · Jul 25, 2008, 06:10 PM

What a loser thread.

Kensington · Jul 25, 2008, 07:07 PM

I think it's a bit preposterous that it isn't possible to do something simple like attach a photo to a text message with the iPhone.....I have an LG Venus and I can quickly attach photo's AND videos to text messages.

Big Mac · Jul 25, 2008, 07:18 PM

Likening not having picture messaging to the iMac's lack of a floppy drive is a poor analogy. The iPhone does do regular messaging, so not having the ability to attach pictures is more like if the iMac had a floppy drive but it was low-quality and could only use double density 800KB floppy disks instead of high density disks.

richwig83 · Jul 25, 2008, 07:55 PM

Its a fair point that email will rule over MMS eventually (once everyone sees the light and buys an iPhone), but to not include MMS functionality its just ridiculous! Its just apple being awkward again!!!

frdmfghtr · Jul 25, 2008, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by shrink

You can send picture messages from the iPhone. It just takes an extra step. Using an email account, send the picture directly to the cell phone using this format: 10-digit number @ service provider's MMS address. Here's a list of some of the US provider's MMS addresses:

Alltel = [email protected]
Amp'd Mobile = [email protected]
AT&T = [email protected]
Boost Mobile = [email protected]
Centennial Wireless = [email protected]
Cingular (AT&T) = [email protected]
Einstein PCS = [email protected]
Nextel = [email protected]
Sprint = [email protected] or [email protected]
T-Mobile = [email protected]
US Cellular = [email protected]
Verizon Wireless = [email protected]
Virgin Mobile = [email protected]

MMS is just a way to bring a form of e-mail to a cell phone. I personally find it a bit out of date with the iPhone and other smartphones. To receive a picture from someone without a smartphone, just have them send the file to your e-mail address instead of your phone number.

It's a pain but it can be addressed by you and your friends updating your address books.

Thanks for that list, it should be quite helpful for half the problem.

The other half is receiving MMS messages on the iPhone.

Now, for the thought that not including MMS support is stupid: as has been stated, Apple's focus group work probably showed that the effort and resources needed to include MMS capability would not result in a positive return on investment (i.e. additional sales would not pay for the additional R&D). It seems that the lack of MMS capability isn't hurting iPhone sales.

So, in one particular case, it's "stupid" but for Apple it was a ROI decision.

Randman · Jul 26, 2008, 12:35 AM

Apple doesn't see the need to offer functionality that its phones don't need. Apple wants to sell phones so why offer something as outdated as MMS.

DigitalEl · Jul 26, 2008, 01:01 AM

Originally Posted by anthology123

Apple is not that stupid, they focus group the iPod and iPhone to death.

You need to read your Apple history if you're gonna spout off about things where the exact opposite is true. Unlike just about everybody else, Apple doesn't focus group products. It's Steve's vision, with Jonny Ive doing the design. They take suggestions from people working within the project... But even within Apple there aren't a lot of spoons in the pot. That's why they make elegant stuff. If you want design-by-committee, I believe it's Windows Mobile you're looking for.

Go to Amazon and search for "Inside Steve's Brain," it's a newish book which includes a lot of behind-the-scenes how things came to be stories.

Apple and focus groups. Um, no.

Originally Posted by freudling

What a loser thread.

Yep.

kman42 · Jul 26, 2008, 01:09 AM

Text messaging is also dead. That is why ATT is charging for it with the new iPhone. They know that in 3 years, no one will pay for text messaging because every decent phone will have an IM client, so they are milking it while it lasts.

On this note, I predict Apple will be releasing iChat for the iPhone to demonstrate the new notification service coming in September. They almost always have an application to show off new technology and this is the perfect combination. Hello iChat, bye bye SMS.

Now, I know people will still depend on SMS for a few more years, which is why Apple has included it on the iPhone, but it will be dead and buried in 3 years.

Randman · Jul 26, 2008, 01:22 AM

SMSing, or texting, has been around in Asia and Europe for a few more years than the US. If you want clues about the future, look to see what trends are happening over there (more emails, less MMS). Chat popular but texting still king.

Eug · Jul 26, 2008, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by kman42

Text messaging is also dead. That is why ATT is charging for it with the new iPhone. They know that in 3 years, no one will pay for text messaging because every decent phone will have an IM client, so they are milking it while it lasts.

I doubt it.

SMS is universal. IM isn't. And I don't know anyone who uses MMS anymore. And in the next several years, email usage on phones will increase exponentially.

Originally Posted by CorpITGuy

Apple tends to lead the way on these sorts of things. As folks have already mentioned, the floppy drive on the iMac is a perfect example of this. However, someone has to take the lead. Otherwise, progress wouldn't just come slow.... it wouldn't come at all.

I guess you forgot that Apple released a floppy drive for the iMac.

Simon · Jul 26, 2008, 04:13 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

I guess you forgot that Apple released a floppy drive for the iMac.

They did, eh?

Seriously, this whole MMS discusion is inane. Apple thinks MMS is history. If you need MMS, get another phone.

Randman · Jul 26, 2008, 04:35 AM

Originally Posted by Simon

If you need MMS, get another phone.

I think it should be that if people want MMS, they should just go ahead and get email.

moep · Jul 26, 2008, 05:02 AM

Originally Posted by Randman

I'm surprised no app.store app hasn't jumped on this bandwagon, even if it is so 2000.

You see, maybe developers have tried to jump on it but apple closed the door on them.

If Apple (or AT&T) doesn't want the iPhone to have an MMS function, the iPhone won't get one. I don't like the concept of the app-store (benevolent dictation and such), but that's a whole different discussion.

analogika · Jul 26, 2008, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by Randman

I think it should be that if people want MMS, they should just go ahead and force all their contacts to get email.

Fixed for real-world relevance.

In five years, this won't be relevant. But today, it is.

Eug · Jul 26, 2008, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Simon

They did, eh?

Err.. Perhaps not. I just remember you could a floppy drive for it in short order, but some googling suggests they may all have been 3rd party. Still, Apple didn't block that, which mean that if you wanted to use a floppy drive, you could still get an iMac.

Simon · Jul 27, 2008, 08:35 AM

Exactly. Apple never offered a floppy for the iMac because Apple wanted the floppy dead. And they succeeded.

And from all can tell they're right on the money with the MMS thing again.

If you want to send pics use email. If you want to send them through MMS get another phone.

Randman · Jul 27, 2008, 08:40 AM

MMS was always meant as a stop-gap between SMS (texting) and email. These days more and more cell phones are email-capable so the need for MMS is lessening.

While some people might still want the functionality, it's really dying out. And in many cases, you are charged for SMS and data transfer anyways.

Quick and easy: SMS.
Quck and easy: Email. And if the other person doesn't have email on their phones, they can wait till they're home.

The iPhones are still missing too many things that people would use (Copy and paste, for one) to worry about MMSes.