The Mac Observer

iPhone: Activating MMS

TMO Talk (4)

iPhone OS 3.0 added support for multimedia text messages, or MMS, but AT&T didn't turn on the feature for it's iPhone toting subscribers for a few months. MMS is available now, and it's easy to add to your iPhone3G or iPhone 3GS.

To upgrade your iPhone for MMS support, do this:

  • Launch iTunes on your computer.
  • Connect your iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS to your computer.
  • Select your iPhone in the Library column on the left side of the iTunes window.

iTunes carrier update dialog

  • Click Check for Update under the Summary tab.
  • iTunes should display a dialog telling you a carrier update is available. Click Download and Update.
  • iTunes will display a dialog once the update is complete. Click OK.
  • Restart your iPhone.

iTunes lets you know when the MMS update is installed.

Once your iPhone restarts, you'll be able to send photos in text messages, and if you use an iPhone 3GS you can send videos, too. Unfortunately, first generation iPhone owners can't play along since the carrier update isn't available for their model.

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4 Observer Comments

   Actions macgeek4life said on September 25th, 2009 at 1:40 PM:

3GS in Enfield,CT.  Feature activated, but fails on sending and receiving pictures.  I can send texts just fine.  Two 3g phones in my office as well and they can send and receive MMS no problems.  Oh well?!

iPhone OS 3.0 added support for multimedia text messages, or MMS, but AT&T didn’t turn on the feature for it’s iPhone toting subscribers for a few months.

Has anyone been able to access the official AT&T carrier settings update on a phone that’s still got 3.0 (or 3.0.1)?  As far as I can tell, phones that don’t have 3.1 installed are prompted (using the technique described above) to upgrade to the 3.1 firmware FIRST.  After installing and rebooting, the carrier settings update then becomes available.

However, there may be folks out there who prefer to remain in 3.0 or 3.0.1 land.  Clearly this version is CAPABLE of MMS; is there an update process that works?

Yesterday, I got a message from ATT that MMS was ready. Following their instructions, I could not set up MMS. Today, I opened your MMS Update page and followed your instructions. I connected my iPhone 3GS (OS 3.1) to iTunes 9.0.1 and selected Updates in the Summary window. All I got was “Your iPhone software (3.1) is up to date”.

Now what do I do? First, I cannot find where the ATT message is stored!. Secon, is it possible that MMS is still not available? I live in 503 area but my phone area is 925. Could that be the problem? Finally, I cannot find a tech support no. for ATT Wireless.

Oh well, usual ATT screw up.

   Actions Carlos Cardona said on September 27th, 2009 at 4:30 PM:

To those above for whom it doesn’t work, you need to RESTART your iPhone! (As the directions above mention). Then it works! Enjoy!

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