Google Answers Logo
View Question
 
Q: Multimedia Message Service (MMS) problems ( Answered 4 out of 5 stars,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Multimedia Message Service (MMS) problems
Category: Computers > Wireless and Mobile
Asked by: allen660911-ga
List Price: $5.00
Posted: 26 Sep 2002 08:03 PDT
Expires: 26 Oct 2002 08:03 PDT
Question ID: 69336
I am work in the telecommunication company,so I am interest in the
Multimedia Message Service (MMS) nwe technology. What are Multimedia
Message Service (MMS) problems and bottleneck?What is MMS system
requirement?
Answer  
Subject: Re: Multimedia Message Service (MMS) problems
Answered By: easterangel-ga on 26 Sep 2002 13:33 PDT
Rated:4 out of 5 stars
 
Hi! Thanks for the question. 

Since you looking for resources on Multimedia Messaging Service, I
will try to provide you with links that answers some of your questions
and also gives a background of this field. Some documents are in PDF
file so you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to read them. In case
you haven’t installed it yet here is a link so you could download The
Adobe Acrobat Reader
(http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html).

In order to get a proper understanding of MMS, it would be helpful to
find basic sources first about the topic. Nokia, a leading cellular
phone company, explains MMS simply as:

“MMS allows mobile phone users to incorporate audio, images, and other
rich content with traditional text messages, transforming them into
personal collages of vision and sound.”

Nokia MMS
http://www.nokia.com/mms/ 

Another good resource to learn about MMS is from the company website
of Tactel which provides a discussion about MMS.

Tactel
http://www.tactel.se/products/mms/ 

The next article gives a brief explanation on how MMS works.

“The MMS architecture contains several key elements and platforms,
defined and incorporated into a Multimedia Message Service Environment
(MMSE). These elements inter-work with each other to provide a
complete MMS.

“Communication and formatting standards are what make the exchange and
processing of messages possible. MMS is firmly grounded in the
Internet world where open systems and standard protocols dominate.
Fortunately, some of these standard protocols have been used in
formatting and communication. For example, MIME (Multipurpose Internet
Mail Extension), is used for compiling the MMS messages. Specifically,
the SMIL (Synchronised Multi-media Integration Language) MIME type is
used to specify the presentation of the multi-media objects in the
message to the user. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is deployed
between mobile devices and mobile network and SMTP (Simple Message
Transfer Protocol) between mobile networks or between network and
(Internet) applications.”

GEARING UP FOR THE MULTI-MEDIA MESSAGING EXPERIENCE (Read the whole
article to get the details)
http://www.tdap.co.uk/uk/archive/mobile/mob(cmg_0203).html 

The following issues or problems are the ones that must be addressed
for MMS to become successful.

1. Pricing
“MMS must be priced so that the sender/receiver pays a fixed price per
message… The critical issue is that the sender/receiver understands
and has control over costs when using MMS.”

2. Adapted services of high quality like content and services must be
present to attract consumers.

3. There must be a wide array of MMS capable handsets. There must be
handsets for low-end customer segments and high-end ones.

4. There must be national and international roaming capabilities like
text messaging.

5. Instant Messaging services must now be incorporates in MMS just
like what people could do on the Internet.

6. Digital Rights Management will also be an issue just like in the
Internet since people will now have more access to copyrighted
material and could spawn more issues. Securing rights from copyright
holders will be a must so as to provide valuable content via MMS.

I got this list from the article “Will MMS be a success?” It also
provides a good basic backgrounder on MMS.

“Will MMS be a success?”
http://www.northstream.se/download/MMS.pdf 

“MMS Pricing Challenges”
http://www.northstream.se/download/MMS_Pricing.pdf 

The incorporation of GPRS in consumer handsets is also being eyed as
another critical factor for MMS technology.

“There are significant concerns about obstacles to MMS rollout, which
include the slow rollout of GPRS," says Woolfrey. According to the
survey, 84 percent of the respondents cited GPRS as a concern. Another
72 percent said that interoperability with handsets was a key factor
that could delay MMS. "Most carriers will buy their multimedia message
service center by the end of this year, but implementations probably
will not occur until next year," Woolfrey predicts.”

SMS Challenges in the U.S. Marketplace 
http://www.watercove.com/articles/billingworld_may02.html  
 
Bottleneck problems in MMS delivery are seen on the type of files and
the capacity of distribution networks.

“Video requires more bandwidth than still pictures. Where a simple
JPEG picture requires in average 50KB of memory storage, an MPEG4
movie of 30 seconds usually requires 3MB.”

Multimedia Messaging:
The 3G revenue generating application
http://www.logica.com/pdf/telecom/MMSWhitePaper.pdf 

“Although the MMS user experience is similar to SMS, MMS is not
transmitted via the SMS transmission channel. The SMS transmission
channel is too narrow band for transmitting multimedia content. The
data speed in the networks must be at least 14.4 kbit/s for carrying
MMS messages. MMS will be transmitted through the traffic channel.”

“The standard does not specify a maximum size for an MMS message. This
is done to ensure future interoperability and to avoid the SMS
dilemma, where the 160-character limit has been problematic. The
message size is therefore an implementation issue. It is also
dependent on operator preferences, if they want to have a standardized
message size for billing purposes. Nokia foresees that the MMS
messages in the first phase will be between 30 kB and 100 kB in size.”

“The standard recommends the following supported media types: JPEG,
GIF, text, AMR voice and some other less-important formats. To achieve
interoperability, Nokia and some other manufacturers have agreed upon
a MMS Conformance Document that lists the minimum set of content types
to be supported by a MMS phone.”

“MMS transport is done using WAP transport and any bearer with WAP
capabilities can be used. Thus, MMS is bearer independent, e.g. MMS is
not limited to only GSM or WCDMA. WAP Wireless Session Protocol (WSP)
is used for message transport from phone to MMSC and from MMSC to
phone. In addition, WAP push features are used to deliver the message
from server to receiving phone.”

MMS: Multimedia Messaging Service FAQ 
http://www.canvasdreams.com/viewarticle.cfm?articleid=1186  

The article “Multimedia messaging poised to take off this year”
provides some market forecasts for MMS technology.

“Ovum expects MMS to catalyze a market for services and associated
content estimated to be worth about $70 billion globally by 2007, with
more growth still to come. About $31 billion will come from
person-to-person messaging. A further $39 billion will be from the
entertainment and information services like machine-to-person
messaging.”

“Multimedia messaging poised to take off this year”
http://www.ia.globalsources.com/MAGAZINE/IWC/0209/PMMS.HTM 

This early, the giant networks want their platforms compatible so as
to get better leverage for their MMS products.

“To see how their systems link up, Nokia and Sony Ericsson hired
AU-System -- a Swedish company that will develop a testing framework
for MMS. But the new testing system is not simply for the two
companies putting this deal together. It also is for the scores of
third-party developers that will build applications to run on MMS.”

“’We have taken this initiative together in order to provide the
market with a consistent and well-functioning technology already from
the very start early next year,’ Sony Ericsson vice president Jan
Svensson said.”

“Speed to market does seem to be the motivator. As soon as the
carriers can swell the market with new mobile messaging applications,
they will reap piles of revenue from service fees.”

Nokia, Sony Ericsson Gear Up for Multimedia Messaging
http://www.wirelessnewsfactor.com/perl/story/14474.html 

The following white paper from Nokia and an article against MMS could
be of good assistance to your research:

Are you ready for Multimedia Messaging Service - An evolutionary
approach to implementing MMS
http://www.nokia.com/networks/systems_and_solutions/files/white_papers/mim_mms_charging_wpA4.pdf

To get a more balanced point of view, this article views MMS with
suspicion.

“Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) will not revolutionise mobile
enterprise applications because network managers already have a choice
of several cheaper delivery technologies.”

Multimedia Messaging will have little impact
Mat Hanrahan [12-06-2002] 
http://www.webactivemagazine.co.uk/Analysis/1132542 

Search terms used: 
"Multimedia Messaging Service" white papers basics issues

I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.

Thanks for visiting us at Google Answers.

Regards,
Easterangel-ga

Request for Answer Clarification by allen660911-ga on 14 Oct 2002 06:04 PDT
I didn't find out Multimedia Message Service (MMS)problem between
mobile phone and computer/laptop. If MMS transmit between mobile phone
and computer/laptop,because different platform can't compatibility.
What are problems will be happening.Please give me detail information.
Thanks

Clarification of Answer by easterangel-ga on 14 Oct 2002 10:49 PDT
Hi again and thanks for asking a clarification.

Convergence is the answer we need so that we could achieve unified
messaging in our cellphones, PDAs, laptops and PCs. Whether they be
for MMS or not, the aspect of convergence is what pulls all these
things together and must resolve certain issues. The following are
articles that discusses those problems.

"Phones that manage personal information, personal companies that
phone home and laptops that airlink, all indicate that wireless
technologies are converging, according to analysts at IDC."

"One of the stumbling stones in the mobile convergence market lay in
the differences among software platforms."

"Roadblocks still make mobile convergence hard to achieve"
http://www.globalflow.com/archive/03052001/allstories.html#gm1 


"In the early days of unified messaging, it became almost a religious
battle over whether voice messages should be stored on the same
physical device as emails. The perspective that I've heard more
recently from companies planning for implementations is that the
combined stores may have philosophical appeal but practical
limitations. Like tightly coupling failures of an email system to also
effect voice messages and added complexity."

"A hand-held cell phone, email, voicemail, personal organizer, and
internet access device meeting all these criteria can't must have a
very simple to use input/ output interface: give customers the
familiar phone key pad and augment that with a voice activated command
interface so powerful that using it is as natural as telling a child
or an employee what to do. People interacting with people do not
operate from complex pull down menus. They don't want to wade through
them on machines either. They didn't like having to learn how to
program a VCR. They don't want to have to learn how to use a pocket
office."

"Roundtable Wrap-Up: The Converging Communications Device: What Do
'Multi-Modal' Users Need?"
http://www.commweb.com/article/printableArticle?doc_id=COM20020430S0011

I think the answer you are looking for could be found in this white
paper from Nokia. Although it is about Nokia's ideas it still is
valuable since it accepts that certain aspects of MMS and other mobile
technologies converging with PCs will have some issues to answer.

Initially the paper says that there must be an all IP infrastructure
for all these devices to fulfill our convergence needs. Then the
following of QOS (Quality of service) issue must be confronted for
convergence to become a  reality. The problem are mentioned as terms
of data rates, IP packet delay, consistent data throughput capacity.

"IP Convergence"
http://nds1.nokia.com/press/pdfs/ip-convergence.pdf

The next topic meanwhile briefly discussess the real world and
commercial issues that convergence messaging, not only MMS since it is
a given that everybody is moving towards that direction, have to
address in order to be successful.

"Unfortunately, most unified messaging services are immature, because
they are offered by start-up application service providers that
typically lack a robust infrastructure for public switched telephone
network (PSTN) or voice-over-IP inbound and outbound services."

"Enterprise-class unified messaging vendors or service providers that
only use IP telephony will either change their products or go out of
business. Already, some unified messaging systems support both PSTN
and IP telephony. This is appropriate because most businesses will
live in a hybrid circuit/packet world for the next five or six years."

"However, over the long term, IP-based modular communications
platforms will allow unified communications messages and real-time
contact to be governed by a set of user-defined rules and preferences.
Other important enabling technologies will be the maturation of Domain
Name System capabilities, the deployment of 2.5G wireless services and
the increasing availability of Wireless Application
Protocol/XML-enabled devices."

"Unified messaging needs divided assessment"
http://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2001/0528pierce.html 

I hope these links enriches my answer. Thanks again for being a part
of Google Answers.

Regards,
Easterangel-ga
allen660911-ga rated this answer:4 out of 5 stars
It's good answer but need more detail

Comments  
There are no comments at this time.

Important Disclaimer: Answers and comments provided on Google Answers are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Google does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. Please read carefully the Google Answers Terms of Service.

If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by emailing us at answers-support@google.com with the question ID listed above. Thank you.
Search Google Answers for
Google Answers  


Google Home - Answers FAQ - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy