SMS Vs MMS: Navigating the Landscape of Mobile Messaging

The two most prevalent text messaging acronyms in the industry are MMS, which refers to Multimedia Messaging Service, and SMS, an abbreviation for Short Message Service. MMS messages are like SMS messages but allow users to include rich multimedia such as pictures, videos, or audio.

On most phones, there’s a difference between sending and receiving text messages and multimedia messages and some phones can’t send MMS. This is because there are two different protocols for sending SMS and MMS. These protocols were developed over 30 years ago, but they’re still in widespread use today. 

Now you may be wondering why we need different standards. Why can’t one protocol send both types of messages? The answer has to do with the rate at which users send data.

SMS messages are sent over circuit-switched channels, optimized to send information in bursts. On the other hand, MMS is sent over packet-switched channels, which are better for sending many requests simultaneously.

For example, when you send a text message to a friend, your phone sends the message through an SMS channel. If you would like to include a picture with that message, the MMS protocol kicks in and provides a way for you to send that photo or video without interfering with the transmission of your friend’s reply via SMS.

As long as both parties support sending and receiving multimedia messages on their phones, sending pictures with text messages is easy. And if they don’t, you can always choose to send only an SMS rather than attaching media.

When it comes down to it, the end-user doesn’t experience any difference between SMS and MMS. The deciphering of protocols goes on behind the scenes.

SMS vs. MMS: The History

Receiving messages up to 160 characters in length was the original and primary use of text messaging when it became commercially available in the early nineties. As time went on, manufacturers came out with platforms that allowed users to format their messages with colors, font styles, pictures, emojis, ringtones, etc., thus creating what we now call multimedia messaging (MMS).

Still, SMS remains the most widely used text messaging technology because it does not require a data plan or WAP activation like MMS does. Text messages are transmitted using wireless carriers’ voice networks optimized for transmitting short bursts of data rather than large volumes of information such as an email.

Pros and Cons of SMS vs. MMS

Both text messaging (SMS) and multimedia message service (MMS) are effective methods of connecting with your consumers, but each has advantages and disadvantages. In some cases, one technique may be superior or more efficient than another depending on the purpose of the application or the goal you want to achieve.

SMS advantages

• It is the most widely used text messaging system available. This makes it instantly accessible to nearly everyone, which means it’s easy to reach your target audience.
• Text messages are an inexpensive way of sending information. There are no connection fees or setup charges for setting up a text messaging program. 
• Because they’re sent over wireless networks, short messages have little impact on traffic congestion and can travel through any type of coverage area with ease.

MMS advantages

• Multimedia messages allow you to connect with customers through pictures, videos, and other imagery, as well as audio clips and other media content. This multimedia content can help make your product or service more relevant and attractive to your target audience.
• Create an MMS marketing campaign inexpensively.
• Multimedia messaging is more personable than regular text messaging because it’s easy to send a stylish message with a personal touch with images, videos, and audio clips.

MMS disadvantages

• This technology requires data plans, which means that your target audience must have smartphones like iPhones to view multimedia messages. If you only have feature phones in your target market, this technique will not be effective.
• Multimedia messaging costs more per message. So, if you are operating on a strict marketing budget, this may not be the most cost-effective service to use. Multimedia messages typically take longer to load than text messages. If cell reception is poor, your customer might not receive your message.