MMS Interoperability and Roaming

SUMMARY

With more advanced handsets and faster network connections, MMS (MultimediaMessage Service) is set to succeed SMS as the next big thing in the mobile dataservices world.

However, unless problems with compatibility and interconnection betweennetworks - as well as the current inability of operators to offer the full rangeof MMS features – are resolved, doubts about the penetration and successof MMS will persist.

MMS Interoperability and Roaming – a new Executive Briefing fromBaskerville, publishers of the leading 3G Mobile newsletter – analyses indetail the requirements, options and complexities of achieving workable MMSsolutions. This unique briefing provides you a clear, thorough understanding ofthe key issues surrounding MMS interconnection and interoperability and theirimportance in driving revenues, enabling you to put together a business strategyto successfully invest in MMS.

Major topics covered include:

• Handset capability and compatibility – what handsets are available andwhat media formats do different handsets support?
• Alternative delivery methods – what delivery methods are availablewithin current MMS solutions? Which is the best suited for your company?
• Interconnection between MMSCs – what are the main requirements andwhat has been achieved so far? What are the capabilities of your MMSC and why isit essential to know these?
• Value-added service provider support – what interfaces need to be inplace for value-added services? What practical issues need to be overcome? CanMMS be used for advertising and, if so, how?
• Pricing and billing – what are the different billing systems in place?How will operator revenue be affected by the way customers access MMS and whatcan operators do about this?
• Industry initiatives – what is in place to facilitate theimplementation and spread of MMS? What particular initiatives should you beaware of?
• Interworking with other messaging systems – How can you ensure MMSmessages are passed on correctly to other systems? As an operator, why shouldyou want to provide interworking services?
• The user experience – how can you ensure ease of use for yourservices? Why is this important?

Key questions answered by this report

• What does your MMS system really mean to your customers? What are itsbenefits and limitations?
• Can customers benefit from improved services from other operators/MMSCs?
• How important are interconnection and interoperability?
• As an operator, how can you protect your revenues when interworking withother messaging systems?
• What are the current MMS specifications as detailed by 3GPP and OMA?

• Operators – understand how to provide your customers with the bestpossible service, and learn what key questions you need to ask of your MMSC
• Vendors – get the latest information current services and challengessurrounding MMS and progress your business strategy according to current marketdevelopments
• Investors and financial institutions – make more informed businessdecisions by gaining a thorough picture of the market and the real factssurrounding MMS
• MMSC providers – assess what has been done so far, through industryinterviews and expert editorial commentary contained in this report, and provideyour business partners with the solutions they really want

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MMS Interoperability and Roaming Contents Summary

Introduction

Chapter 1 MMS- An Overview

• 1.1 What is MMS?
  • Figure 1.1: MMSE Concept
• 1.2 What does MMS provide- the basic aims
• 1.3 What can MMS do?
  • 1.3.1 Managing the multimedia message
  • 1.3.2 Media types
  • 1.3.3 Message handling and delivery
  • 1.3.4 Notification and acknowledgement
  • 1.3.5 Management and control of a network based repository
• 1.4 How does MMS work?
  • Figure 1.2: MMS architecture
  • Figure 1.3: MMS Reference Architecture
  • Figure 1.4: Combined MMS-Relay/Server
  • Figure 1.5: Separate MMS-Relay and MMS-Server
• 1.5 Value Added Services and MMS
• 1.6 Pricing and billing issues
  • Charging per message
  • Charging by size of message
  • Bundled packages
  • Premium content
  • Premium subscription services
  • Free/commercially-funded services
  • Prepaid in the UK

Chapter 2 The current MMS market

• 2.1 Handsets
  • 2.1.1 Nokia
    • Figure 2.1: Nokia 3510i, 3590, 3650 and 7650
    • Table 2.1: Nokia's 2002 MMS product portfolio
  • 2.1.2 Sony Ericsson
    • Figure 2.2: Sony Ericsson T68i & CommuniCam and the P800
    • Table 2.2: Sony Ericsson's 2002 MMS product portfolio
  • 2.1.3 Motorola
    • Figure 2.3: Motorola T720i with camera attachment
    • Table 2.3: Motorola's 2002 MMS product portfolio
  • 2.1.4 Siemens
    • Table 2.4: Siemens' 2002 MMS product portfolio
  • 2.1.5 Samsung
    • Figure 2.4: Samsung SGH-P400
    • Table 2.5: Samsung's 2002 MMS product portfolio
• 2.2 Network support- vendors
  • 2.2.1 Nokia
  • 2.2.2 Ericsson
  • 2.2.3 Logica
  • 2.2.4 CMG
  • 2.2.6 Comverse
  • 2.2.7 Openwave
• 2.3 Network support- operators
  • 2.3.1 Interoperability / interconnection / roaming
  • 2.3.2 Current operator pricing options
  • 2.3.3 MMS operator summary
    • Table 2.6: Selected Operator MMS Pricing Launches
• 2.4 MMS forecasts
  • Figure 2.5: Total World MMS Traffic (Millions of Messages), 2002- 2007

Chapter 3 Connection and interoperability issues

• 3.1 MMS architecture
  • 3.1.1 MMS implemented via WAP
    • Figure 3.1: WAP Implementation of MMS
    • Figure 3.2: Example multimedia message delivery via WAP
  • 3.1.2 MMS Implemented via IP-based protocols
    • Figure 3.3: IP Based Implementation of MMS
• 3.2 Handset compatibility and connection
  • 3.2.1 MMS presentation
  • 3.2.2 Terminal Capability Negotiation
  • 3.2.3 Pre-configured terminals
  • 3.2.4 Initial MMS settings
  • 3.2.5 MMS notifications
  • 3.2.6 Alternative web-based delivery
• 3.3 Interconnection issues
  • 3.3.1 Introduction
    • Figure 3.4: Interworking of different MMSEs
  • 3.3.2 Message flows between MMS Relay/Servers
    • Figure 3.5: Cross Network MM Delivery via the MM4 Interface
  • 3.3.3 MM4 message formats and encoding
  • 3.3.4 Addressing issues
• 3.4 Independent gateways and changing MMS service provider
  • 3.4.1 The concept
    • Figure 3.6: The Independent Gateway Concept
  • 3.4.2 Connecting to the service
  • 3.4.3 Paying for the service
  • 3.4.4 Private MMS gateways
• 3.5 Interworking with different messaging systems
  • Figure 3.7: MM3 Interfaces
  • 3.5.1 T.30 fax and MMS interworking
  • 3.5.2 Voice mailbox and MMS interworking
  • 3.5.3 E-mail and MMS interworking
  • 3.5.4 SMS and MMS interworking
• 3.6 Value added services and MMS
  • Figure 3.8: MM4 Interface
  • 3.6.1 Middleware

Chapter 4 Summary and requirements

• 4.1 The Potential Of MMS
• 4.2 The Importance of Achieving Workable Interconnections / Interoperability
• 4.3 The Key Issues
  • 4.3.1 Handset Capabilities and Compatibility
  • 4.3.2 MMSC Capability
  • 4.3.3 Alternative Delivery Methods- WAP, Web or E-Mail
  • 4.3.4 Connecting to the Service
  • 4.3.5 True MMS Interconnections Between Networks / MMS Service Providers
  • 4.3.6 Subscribing to the Same Third Party MMS Service Provider
  • 4.3.7 Interworking With Other Messaging Systems
  • 4.3.8 Ease of Use- APN etc
  • 4.3.9 Pricing and Billing
  • 4.3.10 Value Added Service Provider Support
• 4.4 What Can Be Achieved Now
• 4.5 Industry Initiatives