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In a move to increase the exposure of multimedia messaging (MMS), Nokia has launched a service that will allow users with GSM phones to receive MMS messages.
MMS is a next generation SMS service which combine text messages with colours, sounds and short animations. The service, until now, had been restricted to more advanced mobile phones which contained the required software and hardware that allowed for the enhanced messages.
The Multimedia Terminal Gateway, launched by Nokia on Tuesday, will allow mobile operators to deliver MMS to non-multimedia terminals, also known as legacy phones.
However the Finnish company's latest move has a major drawback. In order to access the service users will need a computer with Internet access.
Users of legacy phones will receive an MMS delivery in the form of a short message notification. This will include details of the relevant URL address and a password for retrieving messages by using a Web browser.
Users will also be able to reply to the message with a Web-created MMS or forward the original message to an e-mail address. In addition, the gateway will provide mobile handset users with the possibility of storing MMS in personal albums.
Meanwhile, mobile handset users will be able to use personal albums for long-term storage of messages and will be able to free up the memory on their handsets.
Personal albums may be accessed through either a Web or a WAP interface. In addition, subscribers will be able to compose and send MMS using the album service, browse currently stored messages, retrieve previously stored messages and forward a retrieved message to an e-mail address or to another phone.
While the company admits that the gateway is somewhat cumbersome, Riitta Mard, senior communications manager for Nokia Networks told ElectricNews.Net, "The new service will enable non-SMS users to participate in MMS."
In addition it is believed that the service will boost the exposure of MMS and encourage users with legacy phones to upgrade to newer MMS phones as the holiday season approaches. MMS, and other next generation short messaging services are expected to be a major boom for the wireless industry in much the same way SMS was.
Nokia said that it sees the future of person-to-person messaging as being based mainly on MMS technology. Furthermore, legacy phone support plays a crucial role in the initial development of MMS services, and the gateway will help MMS become adapted as a mass market service, claimed the company.
As regards revenues from the new service, the gateway will be sold as a package for mobile operators worldwide. However, Nokia would not disclose how much the package would cost.
For MMS users, the gateway will be made available like an operator service, explained Mard. Again, however, no details are available as to projected revenue volumes.
The new services are expected to become available during the fourth quarter of 2001.
Nokia is at http://www.nokia.com.
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