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iPhone 3GS from AT&T. Free Shipping

iPhone Atlas

September 25, 2009 10:47 AM PDT

iPhone MMS now live

by Kent German

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MMS on the iPhone photos

As promised, AT&T's iPhone finally has the capability to send multimedia messages to another phone number. Whatever AT&T had to do to gets its act together, the carrier did it.

The update went live just a moment ago, and I've successfully sent my first MMS on CNET's iPhone 3G. I was able to exchange photos both with another iPhone and a Samsung SPH-M330 on Sprint.

You'll need to connect to iTunes to receive the update, which should download in seconds. We were able to send an update immediately, but you may have to restart your iPhone first.

To confirm that your device is ready, go to Settings > General > About. Your carrier version should be "AT&T 5.5," and you'll need the latest iPhone 3.1 software update. Also, remember that owners of the original iPhone will miss out on the fun.

For more information, check out Apple's links for updating and enabling carrier settings. And if you're having problems, see Apple's troubleshooting tips or the MMS send failure fix from iPhone Atlas.

Welcome, AT&T iPhone, to 2003. Now we just need that tethering.

Kent German is a senior editor for cell phone reviews at CNET. When he's not testing the newest handsets on the market, he's blogging about cell phone news for Crave. In his On Call column, he answers reader questions and gives his take on the rapidly changing mobile industry. E-mail Kent.

Topics:: News

Tags:: Apple,; iPhone,; MMS,; multimedia messaging,; AT&T

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) Showing 1 of 4 pages (163 Comments)

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by triangulo1 September 25, 2009 11:04 AM PDT

Mine worked just fine. I did have to reset the phone, though.

Like this Reply to this comment


by dctech08 September 25, 2009 6:28 PM PDT: its just like the e-mail feature but its in the text messaging app. and oh yeah, it is delivered in a little bubble! this is what you all been waiting for!; Like this


by yay_4_me September 25, 2009 8:34 PM PDT: GREAT video! I especially liked the Devil Doll/C3P0 figure that was used in the photos. LOL! Long live Radiskull and Devil Doll!!!; Like this


by solicitehere September 26, 2009 7:26 AM PDT: Isn't there an app for that yet?; Like this


by ralfthedog September 26, 2009 10:15 AM PDT: The advantage of MMS vs Email is, you can send it to a person if you only know their phone number and it is very push. Email is push, but it does not jump out of the phone and say, "You have mail."; Like this


by solicitehere September 27, 2009 6:18 PM PDT: Did you have to get 15 other downloads installed secretly. I'm getting tired of itunes always pushing items my way that I don't want.; Like this

by caryjanderson September 25, 2009 11:05 AM PDT

Just an FYI: you don't have to plug your iPhone into the computer you normally sync it with to get this update. Any computer with iTunes 9 will work. Just make sure it's setup not to automatically sync and then plug your phone it (did this with a coworker's computer) and the update will take about 10 seconds. Cheers!

Like this Reply to this comment


by solicitehere September 26, 2009 7:26 AM PDT: Isn't there an app for that yet?; Like this

by frstsk8brds September 25, 2009 11:11 AM PDT

Will this new carrier file disable any tethering hack? The 3.1 OS did, and I downgraded back to 3.0.1 and was able to keep tethering. I will download the new carrier file to get MMS (as long as it does not disable tethering) while still holding off on the 3.1 update if possible. Does anyone know details about this?

Like this Reply to this comment


by abcd9009 September 25, 2009 11:48 AM PDT: Yep! It disables Tethering hack. I would hold back on 3.0.1 unless you really care about MMS; Like this


by frstsk8brds September 25, 2009 12:03 PM PDT: Wow...thanks. I care more about tethering than MMS. I will hold off for now.; Like this


by malu3163 September 25, 2009 12:50 PM PDT: How did you downgrade back to 3.01?; Like this


by legend2k September 25, 2009 2:01 PM PDT: My Tethering still intact!!!; Like this


by myles taylor September 25, 2009 2:19 PM PDT: Mine is working too! I'm not really sure what's up with that, but it's still working. I had decided I'd use MMS more than tethering and to go ahead with the update, but it didn't disable it!!; Like this


by myles taylor September 25, 2009 4:18 PM PDT: I spoke too soon. I turned it on and plugged it into my computer and the setting disappeared. It was weird but not unexpected. I'll just wait for the next person to unlock it.; Like this


by bubbarh September 25, 2009 9:08 PM PDT: How did you downgrade back to 3.0.1; Like this


by solicitehere September 26, 2009 7:26 AM PDT: Isn't there an app for that yet?; Like this


by shinji257 September 26, 2009 9:38 AM PDT: Hold Ctrl+Shift when you click on Restore and it should prompt for the ipsw to flash. This overrides the version check so you can downgrade. You will need to reactivate your phone afterwards.; Like this


by DENOBIN September 27, 2009 10:07 PM PDT: MMS update did not disable tethering for me. Worked first time. 3GS, northern NJ.; Like this

by September 25, 2009 11:12 AM PDT

Slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! But that's to be expected. I am at over 2 minutes lol and t hasn't finished.

Like this Reply to this comment


by X-sync September 25, 2009 11:32 AM PDT: How big is the file. Big files = long downloads.; Like this


by dctech08 September 25, 2009 6:35 PM PDT: did not work on my first try. i sent a pic to a blackberry on t-mobile's network. nothing! think i will stick to the e-mail...; Like this


by solicitehere September 26, 2009 7:27 AM PDT: Isn't there an app for that yet?; Like this


by shannon121 September 26, 2009 8:08 AM PDT: Was able to receive a pic from someone on T-mobile, but sending one didn't work. :(; Like this

by AmericanCliche September 25, 2009 11:20 AM PDT

Downloaded it. Simple, easy and works great. Go AT&T!

Like this Reply to this comment


by cnote1287 September 26, 2009 12:29 PM PDT: only too them 2 years to do it! welcome to 2003 iphone users!; Like this


by mike.gw September 27, 2009 6:09 PM PDT: I'd have to agree with Cnote. That this feature not available in the very first iPhone is an embarassment, and probably indicative of Apple agreeing to leave the feature out and placate AT&T for a cellular network not up to snuff.; Like this


by joabruno September 25, 2009 11:27 AM PDT: Updated in 10 seconds. Had to restart my phone. Works Great!; Like this Reply to this comment


by blackandsilveror September 25, 2009 11:28 AM PDT: updated through itunes, reset my phone everything is there but will not send or receive mms. After 30min on the phone with AT&T they said sorry call back tomorrow!!!!!!!; Like this Reply to this comment

by !Argle September 25, 2009 11:32 AM PDT

This is has been a US-centric problem re the non-functioning of MMS. We have had MMS on the iPhone in France throughout. And guess what? It isn't a patch on email. For us the big change was being able to tag multiple photos/videos to send in the same email. Welcome to back to 2003 indeed, for MMS !!!

Like this Reply to this comment


by myles taylor September 25, 2009 2:38 PM PDT: Yes we know. We've been complaining about it since the iPhone came out. We're not happy that it took so long, but don't blame us for getting excited about it.; Like this


by Mark_Anderson September 25, 2009 3:41 PM PDT: This just demonstrates exactly how woeful the US carriers are.; Like this

by grissomb September 25, 2009 11:35 AM PDT

Anyone one AT&T want to send me the carrier file? I'm developing applications for 3.0 and we can't upgrade (policy) to 3.1 yet....

Like this Reply to this comment


by grissomb September 25, 2009 11:38 AM PDT: My english was quality there. Anyone want to send me the AT&T carrier file?; Like this


by myles taylor September 25, 2009 2:38 PM PDT: Nice story for not wanting to upgrade. 3.1 hasn't broken tethering for me though.; Like this


by timber2005 September 25, 2009 2:55 PM PDT: I would speak with Apple on that. They should be able to offer you a solution, but a poster above said he was able to update the carrier file without getting the full 3.1 update. Its a seperate thing you know.; Like this


by timber2005 September 25, 2009 2:55 PM PDT: I would speak with Apple on that. They should be able to offer you a solution, but a poster above said he was able to update the carrier file without getting the full 3.1 update. Its a seperate thing you know.; Like this

by kgofswg1973 September 25, 2009 11:42 AM PDT

After this carrier update, I noticed a new battery percentage indicator (settings, general, usage, battery percentage). Has this been available for a while and I missed it, or did this come with the new carrier update?

Like this Reply to this comment


by grissomb September 25, 2009 11:50 AM PDT: it's been there; Like this


by kgofswg1973 September 25, 2009 11:52 AM PDT: Damn it...I missed this a while back! Thanks grissomb.; Like this


by mrbofus September 25, 2009 12:54 PM PDT: I'm not seeing any battery percentage indicator; on the Usage screen, I have "Time since last full charge", "Call Time", "Cellular Network Data", and "Tethering Data", but not battery percentage. I have 3.1, the new carrier update, etc...; Like this


by Braderunner September 25, 2009 2:35 PM PDT: That must be new. I'm still at work, so I haven't been able to get the carrier update yet, but my 3G (with 3.1 software) does not have that.; Like this


by myles taylor September 25, 2009 2:39 PM PDT: Could be iPhone 3GS only.; Like this


by ikramerica--2008 September 25, 2009 11:47 PM PDT: it is 3gs only.; Like this

by Ctoddy01 September 25, 2009 11:42 AM PDT

So I've got he update. I only have as options: Email Photo, Send to MobileMe, Assign to Contact, Use as Wallpaper. I don't have anything about MMS. Any thoughts?

Like this Reply to this comment


by kgofswg1973 September 25, 2009 11:43 AM PDT: reboot your phone; Like this

by mritalian76 September 25, 2009 11:47 AM PDT

lol Hey kent what do you mean by welcome, iphone, to 2003??????? Why is that people think the iphone is behind by not doing MMS? When it's other phones that can do MMS. But are wwwaaaayyyyyy behind cause they cant do email!!!!! The first MMS was sent out in 2002. The first email in the mid 1960's!!!! Somebody please explain.

Like this Reply to this comment


by timber2005 September 25, 2009 2:58 PM PDT: Most phones on any network since 2003 have had MMS support.; Like this


by solicitehere September 26, 2009 7:27 AM PDT: Isn't there an app for that yet?; Like this


by keamiss September 28, 2009 3:29 AM PDT: Most of the mid range nokia and sony ericsson phones I was using in 2002 already have basic email support. Even my old sony ericsson T68i that came out in 2002 came with email support. And it is not even a symbian or window mobile phone! Both of those has got email support since 2002.; Like this

by September 25, 2009 11:49 AM PDT

I updated my carrier profile to 5.5 at about 11:30, over on the west coast, and now I have MMS. Video and pictures seem to send fine. I haven't figured out if I can send audio yet. And those pictures with audio messages that people send don't seem to arrive correctly on my iPhone 3gs, I only get the picture and no audio, with a text bubble saying a part of it has been deleted because my phone can't display it properly or something along those lines. No big, but figured I'd mention it anyway in case anyone cares about those sorts of messages. Have been sending to Verizon and AT&T customers with fairly quick delivery.

Like this Reply to this comment


by hate_the_game September 26, 2009 11:04 AM PDT: I have the same issue. Friend of mine sent me a clip that had audio and it didn't come through. It did fix a Visual Voice mail issue though. That would be the issue of getting them. I got 15 voice mails when I installed the file.; Like this

by DrZeusisdead September 25, 2009 11:51 AM PDT

Ridiculous! Why can't the old iPhones MMS.

Like this Reply to this comment


by ewbell77 September 25, 2009 12:25 PM PDT: The iphone classic doesn't have the radio/antenna to send/receive mms. So I've been told anyway. Sorry; Like this


by strykernyc September 25, 2009 1:09 PM PDT: I never heard such a stupid excuse. All it takes is a little programing and is done. this has nothing to do with the hardware of the iPhone.; Like this


by eagleyesmith September 25, 2009 1:21 PM PDT: just jailbreak your iPhone and then you'll be able to Send MMS through the Message App on your First Generation iPhone, so I believe...; Like this


by brian.lee September 25, 2009 1:21 PM PDT: It gives Apple another compelling reason to sell you a new phone... to give you features that come standard with every other phone that calls itself a cellphone.; Like this


by September 25, 2009 3:11 PM PDT: The problem is the Apple has a monopoly on iPhones, so they can do any noncompetitive thing they want as long people like us choose to stay under the spell of the Apple-brand lifestyle. We get a simplified consistent experience by remaining citizens of their totalitarianism, but we miss out on anything they don't value (e.g. Apple headquarters in Cupertino has zero 3G coverage) or that they know they can squeeze us for.

Basically, Apple isn't our friend. Good people aren't always the talented ones, so we have to accept that Apple, the corporate entity, is an amoral rectum who has the talent to make something beautiful.; Like this


by twgibson September 25, 2009 8:18 PM PDT: To the dude who said "Apple has a monopoly on iPhone": Yeah and Nintendo has a monopoly on Wii, Sega has a monopoly on PSP, Kellogs has a monopoly on Pop Tarts... It's called product development; Like this


by solicitehere September 27, 2009 9:45 PM PDT: Apple can't have a monopoly, they are so teeny tiny. They're about 500,000 % away from being a legitimate contender for monopoly or ologopoly status. Google however, is well on their way to getting there.; Like this


by solicitehere September 27, 2009 9:45 PM PDT: Apple can't have a monopoly, they are so teeny tiny. They're about 500,000 % away from being a legitimate contender for monopoly or ologopoly status. Google however, is well on their way to getting there.; Like this


by solicitehere September 27, 2009 9:46 PM PDT: I have the original useless iPhone now, and am quite upset by it if you can't tell by my regular rantings about it. Thanks Jobs, for ripping me off again. Can't wait for the MS phone; Like this

by Joel454545 September 25, 2009 11:53 AM PDT

nice to see apple is finally catching up with the state of technology in this area.

Like this Reply to this comment


by Perry_Clease September 25, 2009 1:33 PM PDT: Well at least we uppercase characters on our keyboards. Where do you live?; Like this


by NeverFade September 25, 2009 1:35 PM PDT: It wasn't Apple, pre se - it was AT&T. iPhone 3GS had this capability since it was released in other countries right away.; Like this


by myles taylor September 25, 2009 2:40 PM PDT: What does Apple have to do with this? This is an AT&T thing. Other iPhone users have had MMS for awhile.; Like this


by Braderunner September 25, 2009 3:26 PM PDT: Apple just added MMS with the 3.0 software upgrade in mid June. Before that, the iPhone just did not have the capability. It's obviously an Apple thing, since the 1st generation iPhone never has had it and it never will. Because of Apple. But so what, iPhone users have always been able to send photos to email. Some phones don't have email? What? Now that's crazy!; Like this


by Sausagebiscuit September 25, 2009 8:22 PM PDT: Well at least we have the keys and technology to include the word 'have' on our keyboards. Where do you live?; Like this


by grissomb September 25, 2009 11:55 AM PDT: it's like 10k; Like this Reply to this comment


by ayoub23 September 25, 2009 11:55 AM PDT: its about time; Like this Reply to this comment

by Nidocamen September 25, 2009 11:56 AM PDT

Hmm, I've been using MMS on an ORIGINAL 2G iPhone with T-Mobile since July 1. It's a jailbroken phone, but the MMS functionality is native, no extra crap except putting in the right server settings and such. Too bad for the AT&T users who had to wait 3 months!

Granted, I would like to go back to AT&T once they fix the network so I can get a 3GS, but for now I'm ok on EDGE on T-Mobile. :-)

Like this Reply to this comment


by juanjox15 September 26, 2009 10:28 AM PDT: Can you share your settings? I'm trying this now and doesn't work on my T-Mobile 3G iPhone.; Like this


by Angelina0803 December 3, 2009 9:15 PM PST: pleaseeeee do share! i have an iphone on Tmobile as well but i cannot receive any mms only send them.; Like this


by superswiss September 25, 2009 12:05 PM PDT: Woot! Now AT&T only needs to turn on tethering and my iPhone will finally have caught up to the Treo 650 Smartphone I used to have before I got the iPhone.; Like this Reply to this comment

by grissomb September 25, 2009 12:12 PM PDT

YES!! I have Iphone 3gs on 3.0 OS and this tutorial (though it says 3.1) still works

http://www.krillr.com/blog/N72ZCXJH/tutorial-mms-on-iphone-os-31-att

Like this Reply to this comment


by solicitehere September 26, 2009 7:28 AM PDT: Isn't there an app for that yet?; Like this

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