Can't believe iPhone 3G doesn't have....

[spiderma]

Ive just Read that the new iphone doesnt support mms and bluetooth audio streaming. i was looking forward to my new phone, now it wont have everything i need :o (going to get some stick from my mate with his n95 now)

[SuperSixThree]

Your just gonna have to live with what Apple makes...

For me:

1. I don't even know what MMS is for

2. I never used Bluetooth on ANY of my phones (Nokia 6682 and SLVR)

[imitchellg5]

1) Just send an email.
2) That would just waste battery power and quality wouldn't be great anyway.

[Andyb7777]

1) what he said, what's the point of MMS when you have email instead? Everyone I know has an email enabled phone these days and I can't remember the last time I used MMS
2) Again with what he said..and again what's the point? The only reason I ever used bluetooth was to send or receive stuff from my friends.

[Dim]

1. Sure, MMS is a popular gimmick that prepubescent teens like to use. However, with Smartphones it's not really necessary.
2. BT headphones are inferior in SQ. Still. What's the point?

[spiderma]

i wanted the bluetooth audio streaming for my car

[jamesus]

As for MMS...send an email to (person's cell phone number)@teleflip.com and it will be sent as a MMS to the receiver.

[jasoncordelle]

I find it funny that people think MMS is not necessary and a "gimmick".

A majority of the world's mobile users utilise MMS as a means to send video and pictures to each other's phones.

It's a huge revenue earner for the major players in the carrier market worldwide (outside of the mobile-phone backwater that is the U.S.)

MMS plays a huge part in the sending and receiving of pics/vids that are very important to people and it offers the ability to share moments in time directly with people regardless of where they are in real-time and with surprising clarity.

I was really disappointed to see the iPhone 3g doesn't address this issue and also offers no video camera or video-calling facility, which again is a huge feature of the 3G networks across the world.

Not everyone has or wants a smartphone - half of them ain't that smart anyway.
I know of only a handful of people with smartphones. The features are not that attractive to most and sending e-mails via mobile is expensive - even on a substantial data plan.

Very short-sighted of apple IMO.

They'll lag a long way behind other mobile players in the worldwide market once the buzz wears off...i give them 6 months before these things are being traded on eBay for better, more sophisticated pieces of mobile equipment.

[Surf Monkey]

The fact that MMS is popular right now doesn't mean it'll always be popular. Why bother with it when you can send images in standard emails? Simplify. That's the Apple mantra.

[Staszek]

I find it funny that people think MMS is not necessary and a "gimmick".

A majority of the world's mobile users utilise MMS as a means to send video and pictures to each other's phones.

It's a huge revenue earner for the major players in the carrier market worldwide (outside of the mobile-phone backwater that is the U.S.)

MMS plays a huge part in the sending and receiving of pics/vids that are very important to people and it offers the ability to share moments in time directly with people regardless of where they are in real-time and with surprising clarity.

I was really disappointed to see the iPhone 3g doesn't address this issue and also offers no video camera or video-calling facility, which again is a huge feature of the 3G networks across the world.

Not everyone has or wants a smartphone - half of them ain't that smart anyway.
I know of only a handful of people with smartphones. The features are not that attractive to most and sending e-mails via mobile is expensive - even on a substantial data plan.

Very short-sighted of apple IMO.

They'll lag a long way behind other mobile players in the worldwide market once the buzz wears off...i give them 6 months before these things are being traded on eBay for better, more sophisticated pieces of mobile equipment.


Thank you!!!

It cracks me up when people say MMS no big deal who uses it anyway. Ummm just about the whole world.

I know people in their 50's who send MMS, so dont say its for teens only. Has anyone looked at the percentage of smartphones.

Its growing rapidly yes, but 2007 shipped a total of 1.15 billion phones, less then 40 million of them were smart phones. Thats not even 30% yet.

Not to mention all the phones out there that people have hung on to.

MMS is viable and it will be for at least the next few years, its a huge extra step to email a picture to someone, and its more of a pain if they send you an MMS.

Its an oversite and a bad one at that.

[jhollington]

The problem with MMS is that the opinion really is very split on how heavily it's used.... For every person I see online who thinks that MMS is an indispensable feature, you can find another one who has never used it and doesn't know anybody else who has.

I fit into the latter category, and not just speaking for myself.... I can't think of a single person in my circle of friends, colleagues, business associates or acquaintances who regularly uses MMS -- many of them have never sent an MMS message.

(To be fair, however... The majority of people I know are Blackberry users, and even though the Blackberry does support MMS, there's really no point if the people you're sending to are also BB or other smartphone users, as e-mail is cheaper).

It really is a niche feature... It may be a relatively large niche, depending on who you talk to, which carrier they're on, and what their prior experiences are, but it's obvious that it's nowhere nearly as ubiquitous as some people seem to think.

One could also call other iPhone features such as maps and GPS to be niche features, but the fundamental difference with these features is that they can be used by anybody. MMS suffers from the same problem as video chat features.... The person on the other end has to have MMS support in their phone/carrier, know how to use it, and in some cases be willing to pay for it (received MMS messages do cost money on some carriers).

[Dim]

I know people in their 50's who send MMS, so dont say its for teens only. And I know people in their 20s who hate to use even SMS. Look at the popularity of usage on the whole and look at the marketing.

MMS is viable and it will be for at least the next few years, its a huge extra step to email a picture to someone, and its more of a pain if they send you an MMS.I have used MMS on standard phones to try it out. It is actually easier to send a picture email on an iPhone, mostly because the UI of most phones are crap. Sure, MMS is a huge money maker because it's such a rip off. It's a novelty and a gimmick. Its "popularity" and "necessity" are blown out of proportion. If one wants to keep being a sucker and feeding the cell phone companies easy revenue then be my guest.

[jasoncordelle]

And I know people in their 20s who hate to use even SMS. Look at the popularity of usage on the whole and look at the marketing.

I have used MMS on standard phones to try it out. It is actually easier to send a picture email on an iPhone, mostly because the UI of most phones are crap. Sure, MMS is a huge money maker because it's such a rip off. It's a novelty and a gimmick. Its "popularity" and "necessity" are blown out of proportion. If one wants to keep being a sucker and feeding the cell phone companies easy revenue then be my guest.
The US public appear to be the suckers as they have bought into the marketing hype surrounding the iPhone and it's "amazing and innovative" features - minus pretty much all of the features that non-US mobile users expect.

It's sad to see the US lagging so far behind the rest of the world in mobile technology usage.

I've seen the numbers and can categorically state that the US is an anomoly in comparison to the rest of the world, when it comes to SMS, MMS and general 3G mobile usage.

The US is also the last bastion of CDMA...not WCDMA (which is true 3g) but CDMA - the crappy non-SIM based netwoks that the rest of the world are decommissioning in favour of better, faster and more feature-laden technology.

Personally, I'd rather have my 3G mobile phone and a separate iPod - that way I get my cake and I eat it too.

[Surf Monkey]

What's actually funny is your insistence on defending the status quo. Again, why bother with another protocol when you can embed images in email just as easily? What's more simple, using several protocols to do basically the same thing or using a single protocol to do it all?

Don't be bitter at Apple because they choose to do things different than the mainstream. Falling in line isn't what got Apple where it is today.

[jasoncordelle]

What's actually funny is your insistence on defending the status quo. Again, why bother with another protocol when you can embed images in email just as easily? What's more simple, using several protocols to do basically the same thing or using a single protocol to do it all?

Don't be bitter at Apple because they choose to do things different than the mainstream. Falling in line isn't what got Apple where it is today.
Don't get me wrong...I'm not bitter. I'll never be an iPhone owner because I feel they lag behind the rest of the mobile world.
I'd rather own a Touch and a separate phone.
Having just checked out Vodafone NZ's pricing on the iPhone 3G and associated plans, I'll definitely be steering clear.

What does get me though, is the insistence by many (and this is mainly from those in the US market) that MMS is a gimmick and something that is going to go away as it's not popular or even very good.

Take a look outside your ownm market some day...there's a world out there that disagrees with you on most things.

[Dim]

The US public appear to be the suckers as they have bought into the marketing hype surrounding the iPhone and it's "amazing and innovative" features - minus pretty much all of the features that non-US mobile users expect. I don't entirely agree. I think most people who are into iPhones are well aware of its capabilities as a mobile phone, which are pretty run-of-the-mill at best. And I don't think the phone features are what's touted as "innovative". It's the User Interface, Operating System, and suite of programs that are being drawn up as such. That being said, its popularity in Europe isn't exactly ho-hum either.

It's sad to see the US lagging so far behind the rest of the world in mobile technology usage. Can't argue there. We've been playing catch up for awhile now.

I've seen the numbers and can categorically state that the US is an anomoly in comparison to the rest of the world, when it comes to SMS, MMS and general 3G mobile usage. Maybe we're on to something. ;)

[jasoncordelle]

Looking at the above extracts of my post(s), it looks somewhat like I have an issue with the US.

I'd like to put it on record that I don't.

I think it's just fine. As long as it doesn't live next door to me. :D

Still not getting an iPhone 3g...

[Andyb7777]

Just to chip in with my own point on this. I live in the UK where almost every phone is 3g and has MMS capability and video calling capabilities. I think i've sent only a few pictures in my life and usually they are just funny things. These days I just email them to people to view when they can. The quality of picture is better than MMS pictures anyway. Same goes for everyone I know, they only use MMS because it's there and it's sometimes fun.

As for video calling, again I've used it a couple of times as a gimmick. I was once sat in a park on a hot summers day while my friend was working in a lab on his doctorate...I video called him to show him what he was missing....he hung up on me. That's the point though, none of these things are needed. They are only ever used as a gimmick. I've never known anyone who seriously NEEDED to make a video call.

I love the iPhone as it's the most simple to use phone I've ever owned and it does almost everything I could ever ask of it. If they threw in an FM/DAB radio with it I'd consider it perfect.

[CocheseUGA]

Just to chip in with my own point on this. I live in the UK where almost every phone is 3g and has MMS capability and video calling capabilities. I think i've sent only a few pictures in my life and usually they are just funny things. These days I just email them to people to view when they can. The quality of picture is better than MMS pictures anyway. Same goes for everyone I know, they only use MMS because it's there and it's sometimes fun.

As for video calling, again I've used it a couple of times as a gimmick. I was once sat in a park on a hot summers day while my friend was working in a lab on his doctorate...I video called him to show him what he was missing....he hung up on me. That's the point though, none of these things are needed. They are only ever used as a gimmick. I've never known anyone who seriously NEEDED to make a video call.

I love the iPhone as it's the most simple to use phone I've ever owned and it does almost everything I could ever ask of it. If they threw in an FM/DAB radio with it I'd consider it perfect.

I equate MMS to those emails that one certain member of your family or entourage keeps forwarding you crap constantly - it's neat, but I really don't care.

I hear all tell about how MMS is so popular, but no one can ever produce numbers to back that up.

Most people I know have all messaging blocked, because carriers like AT&T can't figure out a way to block the spam. Why bother sending a picture message that will never get there? If there's something out there that is so important that I have to take a picture of right then and there, I'll send it in an email to several people, and they're sure to get it.

[Staszek]

And I know people in their 20s who hate to use even SMS. Look at the popularity of usage on the whole and look at the marketing.

I have used MMS on standard phones to try it out. It is actually easier to send a picture email on an iPhone, mostly because the UI of most phones are crap. Sure, MMS is a huge money maker because it's such a rip off. It's a novelty and a gimmick. Its "popularity" and "necessity" are blown out of proportion. If one wants to keep being a sucker and feeding the cell phone companies easy revenue then be my guest.

Im not sure what phone you were using but its laughably easy to send an MMS. Open picture click send in text pick the recipiant send. Thats it.

I am not saying its not easy to attach the picture in an email on the iphone, I end up emailing alot of them, but not to peoples phones, their emails. And most people cant get them on their phones, they wait till they get home, if they even check email everyday. I will reiterate what I said before a very small portion of phones are email enabled.

That being said, its not the attaching part of the photo that is the pain on the Iphone, we all know that is really simple. Its the actual sending (if you want to send it to someones phone), I have to type in their phone number then @ whatever network they are on, and I actually have to know what network they are on which I really dont for everyone I know, I have over 200 contacts in my phone.

Then there is the other side, getting a pic text, I dont even bother looking now because its such a pain on the iphone.

I will give you some examples of why MMS is needed at least in my life until every phone has email.

1. My mother and father travel alot and love to send pic texts when they are out and about spur of the moment thing.

2. Sister and Relatives with children always sending the next cute thing their child does.

3. GF when she is shopping and wants my opinion on things (I do the same with her).

4. This is another GF point that I dont need to write what she sends but I think you get the idea!!!

5. When I travel, especially ski and have people do stupid things I love to capture and get it back to people at the lodge.

So are any of these things earth shatteringly necessary, no, but when you have had it for the last 4 years and have sent and received a ton of them from various people it is overly frustrating when one of the supposedly most advanced phones around decides to take it away because they know better what the future holds.

Oh and for the record I dont know how much a money maker MMS is, every text plan (until I got the iphone) I have ever had since MMS came around included unlimited MMS as a bonus.

If Apple is so bright then please make an addon that does one of two things, automatically figures out the phone email address (what network they are on) when I put a contact in to email a picture. If they want me to use email so bad, then make it easier.

Secondly, since we do have a web enabled phone, when a picture text comes in have it automatically populate the viewmypic website with the login and password for that pic so I dont have to write it down to view.

If you can do those two things I will never complain about not having MMS ever again.

One last thought, so what if it becomes a dead technology, take it out later then, since the most basic of phones can handle MMS, it is impossible for me to imagine it would make any real performance hit on the iphone for including it.

[Staszek]

Oh I forgot to add, as a number about 25 billion MMS were sent in the US last year. Not a huge number when you compare it to say the trillions of text messages sent but thats to be expected.

I think 25 billion is a big enough number to at least through it in for a while. I cant find the world MMS numbers but since the US is the farthest behind in using MMS i am sure its quite a bit more.

[Dim]

Relax. As it is, you can send your little MMSs if you really need to from the iphone if you do a little footwork. Since there's 3rd party apps for jailbroken iPhones I suspect there'll be an app for it in the app store in the not too distant future.

[Staszek]

Relax. As it is, you can send your little MMSs if you really need to from the iphone if you do a little footwork. Since there's 3rd party apps for jailbroken iPhones I suspect there'll be an app for it in the app store in the not too distant future.

Thats the point I shouldnt have to do footwork, and although its not as aweful sending one, its a nightmare receiving them.

That part that annoys me about the people who dont care that we dont have MMS is because they dont use it its not a big deal so why should I care.

Obviously I love this phone for many other reasons then MMS and no its not the most important feature, if it was I wouldnt own this phone, and I have had 2 of them already.

The point is there is no reason it shouldnt be there, and I shouldnt have to jailbreak my phone and void my warranty to get such a simple feature.

[Dim]

Hey, I'm not saying you shouldn't care. If it matters to you, then I wouldn't buy it. What annoys me is people that buy products because they look cool but fail to realize it isn't for them so they whine about it on a forum like this is some emotional support group.

The iPhone isn't for everyone.

BTW, I wasn't suggesting you jailbreak, but the fact that there is an app for it means there will probably be one on the app store. Of course, you may have to pay for it so that means more whining...

[amb1s1]

Do you guys know about apps store? Because I guarantee you that there will be an application that will do MMS, so don't worry that you will be able to do it on your iphone.

[Staszek]

Hey, I'm not saying you shouldn't care. If it matters to you, then I wouldn't buy it. What annoys me is people that buy products because they look cool but fail to realize it isn't for them so they whine about it on a forum like this is some emotional support group.

The iPhone isn't for everyone.

BTW, I wasn't suggesting you jailbreak, but the fact that there is an app for it means there will probably be one on the app store. Of course, you may have to pay for it so that means more whining...


I dont have a problem paying for it and I wont whine I promise :D

[pgowder]

Task sync in Exchange!

[jamesus]

Task sync in Exchange!
DING DING DING!!!!

Tell what he's won Johnny!

[Surf Monkey]

Copy/Paste. The holy grail of iPhone functions.

[damianicus]

"I'd rather own a Touch and a separate phone. "

I'm that guy and it's not as good as having a iPhone (which I'll have in about oh 12 hours).
If you're not in a wifi hotspot you can use a prog called WM WifiRouter to turn your phone into a wifi hotspot so your Touch can get online. But you'd better have it plugged into a charger because it'll drain your battery down fast.

I didn't get the first iPhone for lack of 3G and GPS. Got the Touch instead and have a ATT 8525. The iPhone will do everything I need without having to sync another device to get online.

Sure you can get apps for your Windows Mobile phone to do everything the iPhone does. But they won't all work together as seemlessly as on the iPhone.