MTN, SA`s second largest cellular operator, has selected Comverse`s Multimedia Messaging Service Centre (MMSC) platform to offer MMS to its customers. MMS is an enhanced form of short messaging service (SMS), enabling graphics, video clips and sound files to be transmitted via mobile phones.
The operator is playing catch-up with Vodacom, which has been offering MMS and GPRS (general packet radio service), two potentially confusing concepts, under the Vodacom Mylife brand since October last year.
Megan Vercueil, senior manager, products and solutions at MTN South Africa, says the deal follows MTN`s trial run of its PhotoMessaging MMS application, which has run free since December for contract customers.
In SA, as is the case internationally, operators are still at an early stage in the technology`s adoption. Worldwide acceptance is showing spotty activity with interest in the US and Singapore, but little enthusiasm for MMS in "Nokia country" - Finland. Nordic Wireless Watch, an international mobile newsletter, quotes a Nokia Networks market research report in this regard.
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Says Stuart Eveleigh of Comverse: "MMSC 2.2 ensures interoperability between MMS handsets of varying display capabilities, achieved through its external transcoding server. Other MMSC features include network-based personal storage, close integration with the MTN Web portal (MTNICE), as well as enhanced operations, maintenance, administration and provisioning capabilities, such as statistics and reporting."
Eveleigh adds that application-to-person messaging capabilities, including multimedia infotainment delivery (news flashes, sports, fan clubs, etc), multimedia greetings ("M-cards"), interactive multimedia games, and community applications such as matchmaking and dating, are exciting applications in this arena.
"We view MMS as a key driver in the growth of data traffic - our consumers will be attracted by the fun of MMS as well as by the business possibilities of MMS applications over the coming years," said Vercueil.
She says MMS-capable handsets are already penetrating the market, "and once they have reached critical mass, uptake will take off substantially, especially in the youth market".
Postpaid customers can use MTN`s free PhotoMessaging service, beginning by downloading the required settings to their MMS-capable handsets on mtn.co.za, says Vercueil.
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