MMS lets you send messages with pictures, videos, audio, and even longer bits of text – the likes of which you can’t do with standard SMS. Unlike SMS which is pretty much limited to short text only, MMS lets businesses send all sorts of richer content right into the phone’s native messaging app.
So how does MMS actually work?
MMS basically builds on top of the same messaging framework that SMS uses, but it can handle all sorts of bigger files. When you send a message with MMS, the content gets stuffed into a package and sent through the network to the recipient’s phone – and then their phone just pulls it all out of the messaging app. That can be a picture, a short video, or even just a bit of text that’s longer than what you can send in a standard SMS. Of course there’s a catch – on the flipside, it all depends on the recipient’s phone and their network being able to handle it, and even then there’s a risk that it might get lost in the ether. Plus, it tends to cost a bit more per message than sending a good old SMS.
How does Onextel make things easier for MMS?
Onextel lets business send all sorts of rich media messages wherever MMS is supported, which means you can just send images, or even videos, and have them pop up in the phone’s native messaging app with no need to download an app. And because it’s all managed in one place, alongside SMS, WhatsApp and all the other channels, it makes it dead easy to reach out to people with the right message.
Why does it even matter?
Sometimes just sending a plain old message just doesn’t cut it. A picture of the product, a voucher, or a quick clip just grabs people’s attention in a way plain text can’t. MMS lets businesses add that bit of oomph directly into the messaging app, which can make all the difference in engagement. And yes, it costs a bit more and the delivery can be a bit iffy at times, but if the visual really does add value – rather than just being a default option – then it’s worth the extra effort.