MMS to go live on the iPhone tomorrow - Will AT&T crack under the pressure?
Since the iPhone was first released, users in the US have been tirelessly clamoring for MMS support, and this Friday, they'll finally get their wish. After months of false promises and delays, AT&T will finally enable MMS messaging on the iPhone tomorrow.
By Yoni Heisler on Thu, 09/24/09 - 12:37pm.
Since the iPhone was first released, users in the US have been tirelessly clamoring for MMS support, and this Friday, they'll finally get their wish.
After months of false promises and delays, AT&T will finally enable MMS messaging on the iPhone tomorrow. In a post left on its Facebook page, AT&T wrote that MMS support will go into effect around "late morning" Pacific Time.
MMS for the iPhone is already supported by a number of carriers worldwide, but AT&T has been noticeably slow to implement MMS support here in the US due to bandwidth concerns. Though AT&T has been fortifying its network over the past few months, complaints about AT&T's shoddy service still persist, and it'll be interesting to see how an influx of MMS messages affects iPhone users across the country.
One report, though, suggests that AT&T is shaking in its boots at the expected uptick in bandwidth usage. According to DSLreports, AT&T is extremely nervous about the MMS launch, and have even taken last minute steps to beef up their bandwidth infrastructure even more as a precautionary measure.
Notably, a few users received MMS functionality ahead of schedule, and those users are reportedly responsible for "record traffic during peak hours of the night." Now that's a scary thought if you're AT&T.
That early testing has been a little rocky, with AT&T seeing a fairly significant test outage yesterday that has them rushing to beef up their MMSC messaging servers. Estimates among those working on the project are that traffic on AT&T's wireless network will be about 40% higher all day on Friday as iPhone users fire pictures and video at one another.
After all the flack AT&T has received for subpar service the past 2 years, you would hope that they'd be on the ball and prepared for MMS messaging. At this point in time, they really have no excuse not to be.
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Can You Hear Me Now?
OMG! MMS! Groundbreaking new technology! AT&T should not be blamed for any service issues caused by enabling MMS on the iPhone, after all, MMS is really brand-new, cutting edge stuff, that's only been around, what 8 years?
I think that AT&T is actually run by The Slowskys:
http://www.theslowskys.com/home/
Joe Verizon
"Can You Hear Me Now? Nope, not if you're on AT&T!"
iPhone connectivity
I'd be happy if I could even buy an iPhone from Apple. Of course that isn't possible since AT&T does not provide the appropriate service to allow all residents of the lower 48 states to acquire an iPhone with service.
Since that's the only way that Apple sells the "fritters", the fact that new services are experiencing problems only enforces the idea of why networks should remain open. If AT&T can't supply service to me, why shouldn't I be allowed to find a service that does work?
Of course, my friends at Apple suggest I take the matter up with AT&T, or purchase a "touch' and use one of the other applications available for telephony."
and the impact for enterprise networking is...
I thought Network World was about enterprise networking; Engadget and a bunch of other sites do a way better job in the consumer front.
Unless I missed something, MMS has close to zero relevance for enterprise buyers.
Seriously?
You know, Michael Finneran, you didn;t have to actually READ the article if you didn't think NWW was the appropriate venue for it. Or were you just posting on an article that you didn't actually read?
Sheesh. Lighten up, folks.
and the impact for enterprise networking is...
Seems like Mr. Finneran didn't read the article. Of course it's relevant if it causes the whole network to crumble (further).
Speaking for myself (admittedly not an Enterprise customer), I am really sick of hearing from at&t salesmen. What I would like to hear is that competent technical people are on the job actually fixing problems.
at&t, can you hear me now?
Apple Needs to Drop the AT&T Exclusivity Agreeement
Apple can fix the AT&T slow-mo network, MMS and everything else and at the same time boost iPhone sales through the roof... drop the AT&T exclusivity agreement.
Jobs, can you say hello Verizon?
"After the flack AT&T has received for subpar service..."
Someone mailed them a press agent?
They do get a lot of flak, which is criticism
that only resembles anti-aircraft fire (at least so far...)
More "After the flack..."
Sorry all you Verizon employees that seem to post here, but I have had both Verizon and AT&T in the Chicagoland area and ... AT&T was far superior. BTW, no, I do not work for AT&T.
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