AT&T: Enabling MMS on iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS

I updated around 2 pm today. Only takes 1 minute. Sent an MMS photo and went through right away and received promptly on the other phones. Did another phone around 5pm. Went fine.

ATT carrier is now 5.5 version. Sending a photo with text is so much easier than with my Nokia's. Very simple menu UI. Didn't know about 3.1, but I'm there anyway. It has worked in other countries with 3.0. Maybe someone else can try.


VF

 

If you google around or go to other user forums, there are workarounds to avoid updating to firmware 3.1 and still using the ATT 5.5 ( or 5) update to get MMS working.

For those that have JB'd and don't wish to go to 3.1

Good luck. I haven't heard of any massive problems with MMS on the first day either.

 

I updated around the same time as Viewfly with the same results. Just updated my wife's and that went smooth as well. My question would be how much more is AT&T going to charge for the mms texts? I have to believe it will cost more or fall outside of text messaging packages.

 

There is no extra charge for MMS. Falls under whatever SMS plan that you have.
You can send video, photos, text, audio, etc.

See: iPhone MMS Messaging

 

Not too crazy about MMS so since I've waited so long I figured I can wait a few more days until the JB for 3.1 comes out. I'm staying put on 3.0.1 in the meantime.

 

LOL, I just received my text message from AT&T letting me know MMS is now available. They definately took their sweet time rolling it out.


Pretty impressive that it just falls under the normal SMS package...

 

I can't believe that there are so many different experiences with this. I updated my iPhone to the new carrier profile and then shut my phone off (actually about 10 times) and I still can't send MMS. Yes, my MMS is turned on and yes, it says AT&T 5.5 for the new profile name. I also have the 3.1 OS. It doesn't matter whether I'm on WiFi or not, it still won't work. I've even backed up my phone on iTunes and completely reset it, and it still won't work. Funny thing is the other person on my account has an iPhone, and theirs works fine. I don't get it.

 

Doesn't MMS simply use the SMS bucket for every carrier?

 

I heard there was an isolated problem regarding Michigan...MMS servers were down. But that was yesterday. If for some reason in the past, didn't have MMS, some people found that ATT didn't authorize them this round, If you haven't call ATT and make sure the software switch is 'set' for you to receive MMS with SMS. I think that some that had moved their SIMS out of the iPhone for a period (and moved to a BB) had some problems when they returned.

Anyhow, you did everything right, but check with ATT. Sorry to hear it has been so frustrating for you!

 

Well, I've contacted AT&T twice already and both times they told me that it must be my phone. But I even put my SIM card in my mom's RAZR and I still couldn't send. Does that mean that there's something wrong with my account or my SIM?

 

Your account. I would walk into a local ATT store. Show them what you did with the SIM...use the sales rep to prove it. I suppose you could try an Apple, but I would go to ATT first. If nothing else they can give you a new sim...

 

Yeah, I was definitely thinking it was my account, but I guess it doesn't hurt to get a new SIM. The only thing is that the other person on my account is not affected (we're on the same plan). Going to an Apple Store is kind of out of the question because the nearest one is 85 miles away.

 

Are you sure that I'll be able to put someone else's SIM in my iPhone? I always thought that the iPhone was locked to a particular SIM. I just don't wanna mess anything up on my phone if I don't have to.

 

Ok, well thanks for that info. I have the iPhone 3G, so hopefully that's not a problem.

When you say properly provisioned for messaging, do you mean just messaging in general or MMS? Because I send and receive SMS all the time. Also, I can actually receive MMS, I just can't send them (except for the test one AT&T sent me, I was able to copy and paste the image and send it to a friend, so I'm baffled by that.)

 

Your problem now became very interesting. SMS and MMS are separate. Until last Friday, even people with the proper ATT file (or even JB'd) could not send MMS (but could SMS) until ATT allow them to do so ("provisioned"). So, yes, even within the same account, each person can be provisioned differently. This is why I thought it may be your account (I'm doubtful it would be the SIM, for the same reasons above).

From what you said, you 1) have the camera icon within the SMS program, 2) you can't send a photo from your camera or camera roll, 3) but when ATT sent you a photo, via MMS, you could forward that to another.

So if your family member sends you an MMS, you can send it back to them? But if you send one from your own iphone camera, it doesn't go through? And what happens? Do you get a red exclaimation point.

Well, it almost sounds like your camera/software is not constructing the file right for sending via SMS. You may have to take that trip to the Apple store 85 miles away, or call Apple first at least. From what you said, it seems less likely to be the SIM or account.

I would try placing your family member sim into yours and trying that. Or go to the ATT store and let them do the same. You have a lot of info right now to give them.

Good luck and let us know what happens. All three of my iphones upgraded very smoothly the first time.

 

If somebody sends me an MMS (besides AT&T), I cannot send it back. Everything on my phone looks exactly like my friend's on his phone. Except his phone allows him to send the picture. I took his phone and sent a picture straight to my phone and then tried to send it back, and nada.

I wonder if it's a white iPhone thing. He's got the black one and has never had problems and I have the white and it seems like mine is always filled with problems. I've already had the phone replaced twice (not recently). I've also replaced my SIM once (like last year). So I'm going to first go to AT&T and have them look over my account to make sure everything's ok and then ask them to give me a new SIM. I guess it can't hurt. If that doesn't work, I'll be calling Apple to see what they can do.

 

I JB'd my iphone and hacked the MMS a couple of months ago and it worked flawless with a normal voice/data SIM.

I updated to 3.1 and it put the iphone back to normal and erased my hacks, I updated for MMS thru itunes and it went thru and activated with no issues I can send and recieve with no issues.

I have multiple phones and Sims and swap them around all the time from different phones to the iphone. Once the iphone is activated it really dont care what SIM is in it.