SwirlyMMS 1.2 | Published by SwirlySpace.com | Via Cydia | $8.00 USD | Released: 9-16-08
Flutter 1.0 | Published by Juice Wireless, Inc. | Via App Store | Free | Released: 9-12-08
Overview
Our goal for this week was to find a true MMS solution for the iPhone. I know what you’re thinking: “But Nic, the iPhone can’t do MMS!” To be honest, I was thinking the same thing, but then I read about Flutter which was recently released in the App Store. After reading most of the comments my attention was also drawn to a jailbreak app called SwirlyMMS.
What was I to do? Try them both of course, and let you guys know how they fair.
Functionality
Both Flutter and SwirlyMMS promise to bring MMS to the iPhone. Upon closely reading the descriptions of the two applications, however, we found they work in two entirely different manners.
SwirlyMMS requires you to input your phone carrier’s settings, upon which it directly sends messages through your carrier. This means per message charges unless you have an unlimited messaging plan. Flutter on the other hand sends messages through a web server that relays the message to an SMS server to send on to the recipient.
What does all that mean? Let’s compare the two to find out.
Comparison
We can start off with giving credit where credit is due. In the category of accessibility Flutter is the clear winner. Flutter is available in Apple’s official App Store as a native application, and on top of that, has a price tag of free.
SwirlyMMS on the other hand, due to the type of functionality it provides, will not likely ever be seen in the App Store and is therefore only available to those with jailbroken iPhones. SwirlyMMS (also due to the functionality it provides) is not free; they charge a very conservative $8.00 USD.
Flutter: +2
Ok, now that we have that out of the way, let’s get to the features. I’m going to throw in a little spoiler here as well: Flutter won’t be receiving any more points from us here on out.
Other than being freely available to all iPhone users, it has nothing to offer over SwirlyMMS and can not in our mind be even closely considered as a true MMS solution. Here’s why..
First of all we’ll talk about sending. Both applications are intuitive and easy to navigate. Upon launching Flutter you are taken to the new message screen where you are asked if you would like to include your current location with the message. Hitting yes or no gives you the option to take a picture or choose from your existing photo library on the phone. You can then select a contact from your contacts list. You can see in our screenshot below we have attached our location and a picture to send in our test message.
SwirlyMMS is more like a real messaging client and upon launch you are taken to a screen with your inbox, outbox, sent box, and trash. When tapping the new message button at the bottom you get a very similar screen with a box that lets you choose a number from your contacts, or type in a number directly. As with Flutter you will notice I have sent a small text and picture message to myself.
SwirlyMMSFlutter
Here is where the two differ greatly. Flutter works by taking our message, uploading our pic to their web server, and sending me a regular SMS with a web link to go look at the message. Now I must have both a data plan and the ability to click on links within an SMS to view the message. This also leaves our pic up on the web to potentially prying eyes.
SwirlyMMS, in contrast, has sent the message as a real MMS through our carrier. I received the message in my picture messaging box, and was able to see the picture and message without clicking on any external links.
SwirlyMMSFlutter
SwirlyMMS: +2
And this is where the review ends for Flutter. Flutter has no capability to receive MMS messages at all. In fact, the message sent from Flutter doesn’t even come from my phone number, so technically those who I send messages to have no simple way to reply. From here on out it’s all SwirlyMMS.
SwirlyMMS is what we can call a ‘True MMS Solution’. I received the SwirlyMMS message I sent in realtime with an accompanying alert and properly updated SpringBoard badge that signifies my message count. The messages can be replied to, forwarded, and deleted from the inbox. Once I started using the application I instantly felt like my iPhone was (finally) complete.
Here are some screenshots of the rest of SwirlyMMS in action.
SwirlyMMS: +6
Summary
Flutter has definitely carved out a niche for itself being the only MMS option for stock iPhone users. It also has that eye-catching price of ‘Free’, but it falls alarmingly short on functionality.
Even if my phone wasn’t jailbroken, I doubt I’d be using Flutter. I hate the idea of my pictures being uploaded to a server where they could potentially be harvested for some other use. I doubly hate the idea that my friends would have to have a data plan, and also follow an external link to view my message. And my last gripe? Not being able to reply to the messages. What good is messaging without the ability to reply to the person that sent you one?
SwirlyMMS has won its way onto my SpringBoard and will happily live there as long as the ability to jailbreak my iPhone exists. It’s a bit of work to get set up, including having to call AT&T and, in some cases, having additional options added to your account (explained below). However, after the initial setup work is done, it fills a key void that the iPhone has been missing since day one, and I feel that the minimal $8.00 USD fee to the developer for continued full use is well worth the cost.
**Please read below the ratings for important information on getting SwirlyMMS to work for you.
Flutter:
Bonus Feature Rating: +2
- Usability: 3 / 5
- Value: 1 / 5
- Utility: 1 / 5
- Aesthetics: 2 / 5
Overall Rating: 1.75 / 5
SwirlyMMS:
Bonus Feature Rating: +8
- Usability: 5 / 5
- Value: 5 / 5
- Utility: 5 / 5
- Aesthetics: 3 / 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5
Important Notes:
SwirlyMMS requires you enter the connection details specific to your carrier. The link below contains carrier information for most carriers worldwide:
Worldwide Carrier Settings List
AT&T users have seen problems with the iPhone not being able to connect to the MMS server. I called AT&T and told them that I sometimes use my SIM in my old RAZR, and would like to add the “Media Net Per Use” plan to my phone. On a family plan this needs to be added to each line. This will not affect your unlimited data, and the per use feature has a $0.00 monthly fee. I currently have an unlimited messaging plan on my phone, and was told that the MMS messages I send from another phone will not have a charge.
If you don’t have a messaging plan there may be a per message charge for each Multimedia Message sent and received (I believe it’s $.25 per message).
Thank you. Here’s the deal. I have looked at several forums within the SwirlyMMS site and no one seems to be able to get this to work. It is necessary to have a family plan for this to function? I understand I will have to tell AT&T I have another phone (which I do) that I switch the card to occasionally. Please clarify this because your directions seem simple but so many users are having difficulty. Was it really this simple for you just to call them and ask to add the pay per use? PLEASE WHAT SETTINGS DID YOU USE? Here is the forum at SwirlyMMS…
http://swirlyspace.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=353&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=30
Great review. I’m glad someone recognizes that Flutter is not even close to MMS. Very astute observation on the cost to the receiver, they must have both a data plan and messaging plan. Only 23% of the market has a data plan so unless you run in high tech circles chances are your friends only have messaging plans. I’m not running an unlocked phone so I’m still waiting for a better solution.
@Craig: Jailbreaking should not be confused w/ the term unlocking. Jailbreaking is just modifying the software on the phone, and is completely reversible by restoring the original software from within iTunes. Unlocking is the term used to describe modifying the baseband to allow unauthorized SIM cards in the phone. I don’t think you will see a solution as fluent as SwirlyMMS in the AppStore due to the restrictions placed by Apple and AT&T.
@Jasmer: I have AT&T… I used the following settings
MMSC: mmsc.cingular.com
Proxy: 66.209.11.32
I also left everything else on the settings page blank.
Yes I called AT&T, I told them I use another phone for sending MMS and would like the MediaNet Pay Per Use plan added to my line. They had no problem and added it. Afterwards I sent myself an MMS and all was good. I have unlimited messaging, if not I believe the charge will be $.25 per message, so watch your statements.
AFTER HAVING AT&T MAKE ANY CHANGES YOU NEED TO POWER OFF AND BACK ON YOUR PHONE
You might also try the option on the bottom to change your phone’s useragent. Depending on your region they may be setting mms options based on the useragent sent to the proxy.
Nic Elder comes through again. The name reminds me of this quote:
“Thanks. Hey, I guess they’re right. Senior citizens, although slow and dangerous behind the wheel, can still serve a purpose. I’ll be right back. Don’t you go dying on me!”
LLoyd – Dumb and dumber.
I have wrestled with AT&T on the phone for the past 35 minutes being punted from one rep to another. Even after the Media Net Per Use plan being “added” (they said it was already part of the iPhone package, even though we can’t use it), I still can’t get Swirly to work. VERY frustrating.
None of the settings described above work for me either. I have also used others in other forums on the net, to no luck.
SwirlyMMS sounds great for some users – apparently. But judging the message boards, I wonder if the majority of folks CAN’T get SwirlyMMS to work. For that reason, I think the ratings should be qualified.
However, if it’s working for you, I can certainly understand the positive ratings. The rest of us are just jealous…
I have called ATT with no success they added medianet to the plan but I am still getting 403 Forbidden my settings are the same. Nick can you specify if you are using a 3G and what firmware you are running
@Name: After having AT&T Add the MediaNET Per Use feature, did you shut the phone off and turn it back on? I’m using 3g on 2.1 firmware… I am having others on the swirly board report it is working for them after adding the MediaNET, one an actual AT&T employee
http://swirlyspace.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=353&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=30#p3490
@Jeff: I assure you the MediaNET is not “part of the iPhone package”.. unlimited data is, but they need to specifically add the “MediaNET Per Use” feature to the line. Power phone off/on to enable after the account has been updated
Ok Nic last question for you… What did you mean by this specifically…
“You might also try the option on the bottom to change your phone’s useragent”
Option on the bottom of where? Change my user agent to what?
Also has anyone here tried this?
1. Power Off iPhone
2. Put your SIM in another phone
3. Send an MMS
4. When it doesn’t work call ATT and do what was suggested by Nic
5. Then try again with the other phone.
6. Once successful power on iPhone then try with iPhone
Is this a plausible plan of attack?
@Nic: I think it matters how knowledgeable/helpful your ATT rep is as well. I’m calling again…
@Jasmer: At the bottom of SwirlyMMS Settings you can pick another phone user agent… that’s all…
You shouldn’t be required to actually put your sim in another phone. Agents have the ability to add the Pay Per Use feature to the iPhone plan. I have successfully done this on 2 iPhones now, and also had a Missouri AT&T rep tell me he was able to add the plan on his phone just fine.
@Jeff: However I got a rep that didn’t know about how to get it done, so she looked at all the available features and said “Let’s try this one, if it works cool, if not then it’s a 0$ charge so no loss”… it turned out it worked
I have this working 100% the way nic stated. I think the easiest way would be to call or go down to your local agent location for at&t, not corporate, and have them do it. They will probably say they can’t at first then just ask them to try and i bet they will try and it will go on the account and they will be surprised like I was and you will be on your happy little way! lol
or call in and I would just ask to add media net pay per use and not even mention the iphone.
I am arguing with the ATT rep right now. They are telling me they can’t add the Media Net per Use plan to an iPhone account because iPhones have unlimited medianet already on the phone.
Darnit! She said her system would not allow her to add Media Net Per Use to my account. I insisted that it could be done, but she said that she was trying to do it and even involved a tech manager on the phone call who also tried, but the system would not allow it.
I don’t know how you’re being successful here, but maybe you could call your guy for me?
Anything this difficult is just crazy.
I’m not too worried about mms charges, im worried about media net charges : (
call your local agent!
tell them to try it in pos 2………
@sinner1649: She assured me the unlimited iPhone plan would overrule the medianet in billing. I had her note my account as such so that I have a leg to stand on if my bill comes out telling me differently.
I know I did the same thing. : ) But AT&T reps sometimes just make up stuff. Oh well we shall see.
did ya figure it out Jeff?
Pos 2.. The response was “That’s not even our system. I can’t access that.”
exactly. Call an agent. Thats what we use.
I just called ATT and the rep said they CAN NOT add any MMS or Pay Per USe to my plan since I’m on an iphone plan.
LAME.
I may have to go into the store and see what I can do.
how bout you email me and fix me up?
Wish I could bud…I only have access to Missouri : (
Uh-oh… that’s the issue. You guys hate the Razorbacks..!
lolololol go mizzou!
Woooooooooooooo. Pig. Soooooie. (I’m actually not that big a fan, but I can call the Hogs with the best of them.)
@all: After spending an hour on the phone w/ both a customer service rep, and a technical support rep having them compare both mine and Jeff’s plans they say that all features are currently identical. Jeff is still unable to send MMS messages. The only difference that we can see between the two plans is that my plan originally had a Sync on it. I don’t really know what advise to give from here. If anyone else can share their experiences. sinner has said that this has worked for him.
ummm I dunno man try uninstalling and reinstalling swirly does he have the correct settings in
http://mmsc.cingular.com
066.209.011.032
Image size medium
Phone is set to nokia n95 it’s working for me
Hold on I think I figured it out
Go to cydia download reenable editing of apn
Then go to settings- general- network- cellular data network under apn put wap.cingular
When I delete that it won’t work see if that does it
My friend works for ATT Tried to add “Media net pay per use” with Iphone plan, and with regular PDA data plan, both before and after adding the data plans in two different systems. It keeps telling him that feature can not be included.
Omg I just dropped my iPhone in a cup of soda!!!!!! It’s still working for now…. Tell them they need to use pos 2
Did you mean when you delete the wap.cingular it DOES work or NOT? Either way, when I downloaded that and went to the Settings…General… Network… CDN… the setting as there automatically.
I tried it with and without it there and with the settings above. Still no luck.
@Jeff: if you put your SIM into your sons phone, can you send an MMS?
@Nic: Nope. I can’t.
Ok using Nics advice http://www.appleiphoneapps.com I called ATT after speaking with several reps i finally got one to work with me she advised me that MediaNet Pay Per Use was already added to my plan (which is a family plan) I asked her if she would remove it and re add it, which she did, I also asked her to check snooper to make sure the mms/mmsc were turned on and WAP set to push she verified that and sent a signal to my phone after a reboot I was able to use SwirlyMMS but my 1500 text msg plan was gone she readded that but when she readded the 1500 text msgs / month it apparently got rid of the Pay per Use on her system but it is still working for me, I tried to do this with another account which wasn’t part of the family plan and she couldn’t get it to work the only way she could get the option was to first delete the text msging plan and then she was able to add the pay per use but it was never sucessful my settings are as follows
MMSC: mmsc.cingular.com
Proxy: 066.209.011.032:8080
If anyone else has any luck please let us know
Anybody figure it out?
What are people using for the agent? I’ve tried everything and checked with ATT and then show me with family unlim msg. and medianet pay per use. I can ever see the data on the ATT wireless site details after I try to use it.
hey nic you still around??
Hey Nic and Jeff, I have tried every setup mentioned here to no avail. Called ATT and even spoke to a manager about getting MMS Pay Per Use added to my account, and both her and the regular rep said they received an error message when trying to add it to the account, and thus couldn’t do so. Also asked them to remove the iPhone Text Messaging plan as mentioned above, try to add MMS, then re-add the Text Messaging, and that didn’t work for them either. Same message. They claim it is directly conflicting with the iPhone Data Plan (Internet) in their system, and that MMS “is internet” and that’s why. Doesn’t make sense to me since MMS is a whole different thing than a data plan, but nothing I can do short of visiting a retail location I guess. Just thought I’d report here.
I’m seeing some subtle differences in the settings people are using.. both you (Nic) and sinner are saying you’re successful, but are using different IP’s? You’ve excluded http://, and also omitted unnecessary zeros in your IP address up there. It still works for both of you regardless of this?? I’ve never heard of a working IP with a leading zero.
Incase anyone is interested, my current (non-working) settings are:
MMSC: mssc.cingular.com
Proxy: 66.209.11.32
APN / User / Pass: [blank]
Image Size: Medium
UserAgent: Nokia_N95
I live in Arizona near Phoenix, and have a 16gb 3g, not that it should make any difference. Also verified the ‘reenable editing of APN’ app was working and info was there too. Any ideas on getting ATT to put this on my account, or can any of you with ATT friends help me? :/ Number is 317.946.6046 if you need to call
Thanks guys..
@sinner: Alive and kicking
@Andrew: I think it’s horrible that these options are working for some accounts and not others. I actually got put on the line w/ a technical supervisor who tried to evaluate my account (working), and Jeff’s (not working). He said that as far as everything he can see, they are identically setup. So I’m still at a loss.
as far as IP addresses and leading 0’s are concerned. Older phones used to have 3 digits in each octet of the address. All 3 digits had to have a number in them or it wouldn’t take the settings, so a leading 0 was added on any octet lower than 100. Given this format cell phone companies over the air setup will use the leading 0, however most new phones don’t care if you have it there or not, they strip it anyway when actually talking over the network.
well I will have national access to accounts by the 1st : )
Sinner1649: Contact me via email sk8zr0k@aim.com so i can give you details about my account, i have gotten Swirly to work but then due to the sweeps it gets reversed back to not working
Anyway we can exclude me from the sweeps? or just setup my account correctly so i dont have
the reversal problem? Please let me know, thanks !!
Hi everyone,
I own a 1st gen Iphone, and I have been fortunate to have swirly up and running. Currently I’m working on getting my friend’s 1st gen to work, however my method of calling up ATT and demaning to have MMS added to the account won’t work anymore.
I also have a friend that works for ATT try and use Nic’s method…however no luck there. He mentioned that because we have 1st gens he isn’t able to tweak the account to allow Media Net.
Meanwhile I’m still scouring the internet for solutions. Anyone out there with a 1st gen have any success?
I don’t have national access yet so giving me your account info is meaningless, sorry. I will have it soon….. By the 1st of october. Btw, I have 1st gen….. And mine still works….. Even after the sweep.
It seems that setting up the Pay per use is hit and miss for some. I tried today to add the mms feature with no luck. A really helpful and smart rep helped me for about 45 min trying to get this feature added to no avail. Also states, that it conflicts with the iphone data plan. He explained that MMS is Data and sent via internet, the only difference is how you are charged (.30 per MMS).
The only solution for me is to combine my wifes account (non-iphone) with mine and add MMS to a family plan.
Just got off the phone w/ an ATT rep – he was able to add MediaNet pay/per use (family plan) but it did not solve my “HTTP/1.1 403 Forbidden” error. I have tried all the suggestions listed here as well as a couple of other sites. Any new information/input would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!
BTW – I’m trying this on a jailbroken 2nd gen iphone 3g running 2.0.1 firmware – thx
Just to throw another wrench into everything… My 3G suddenly started working Friday! I have tried so many things, I don’t know what eventually happened. I cannot get my wife’s 1st gen to work with my settings, however.
I do know that I took my sim out and put it in my son’s phone.. I did the auto-request feature… (I eventually erased those settings and went back to Nic’s)… I added the reenable editing of apn app from Cydia (but deleted it after it didn’t work)…
All I can say is my 3G is now working… 1st gen is not.
So it seems that as of now, this method only works if you have a family plan? Am I right of has anyone done this on just a one phone plan?
So how can you really get it to work with the family plan (which i have) im just a lil confuse lil help .. ?? thx
sinner1649,
Are you able to help people get set up with this? If so, I would be greatful for some assistance. NDBounce at hotmail.com
So do you have to eliminate the iphone data/txt plan first?
then add pay per use,
then add iphone plan again?
if so do i get chared for each mms or will it come out of my txt message count?
I eventually got SwirlyMMS to work (iPhone / AT&T / FamilyPlan / Unlimited Messaging) by:
1.) Using the settings mentioned above (Nic Elder, post #4)
2.) Calling Customer Care and asking to add register my SIM card and send an over-the-air config
3.) Rebooted phone and my messages left the Swirly Outbox
Features I’d like to see added to SwirlyMMS are:
– Save draft message (so you can compose something and save it to send later)
– “Snap a Pic” actually saved the image to the Camera Roll, then linked it as a media part (the current implementation your captured photo is not saved unless you manually save it from the sent message)
– Link from Camera Roll view to send as SwirlyMMS message (currently only “Email Photo” available)
Good luck everyone!
I have to agree, the usability is a bit challenging once you begin to heavily use it. I’m sure we all are very excited to see MMS support in the new iPhoneOS 3.0 coming this summer.
Big thanks to SwirlySpace for making a workaround to process MMS directly from an App on the iPhone while Apple built this functionality into it’s TXT app!
I just called AT&T and they tried adding Media Net Pay Per Use to my account and the rep told me they couldn’t add it.
I really want to get this to work as not having MMS on my plan is frustrating. What’s even more frustrating is that when someone sends me an MMS, it shows up in my inbox, but I can’t retrieve it..
Any help would be appreciated. email me @ fizmobile at gmail dot com if you know how to fix it
How do i get internet settings to my iphone 1st gen
Hey Nic,
Ok,so i just got off the phone with at&t, i switched from iphone text messaging to standard text message with mms. I also used your exact settings and it still doesn’t work. Any suggestions?
OK I got mine to wk and didnt call at&t
I went to the At&t Website and removed my Iphone unlimited messaging plan that was for $20/month
Then Added the AT&T MMS messaging plan (which includes texts pics & video{for non iphone users}) for $20/month.
Then restarted my phone, went to swirlymms and changed user agent at the bottom of the settings screen to a non iphone setting ( i used SE_W800i) and Viola!!!!!!!! Works Great
3G Iphone 2.1 Jailbreaked This Morning October 26, 2008
Buddha, do you still have the voicemail feature working?? I hear that it disables some features.. everything still working the same including 3g??
I’ve yet to find someone who gets Swirly to work reliably. Flutter is not true MMS. Email/MMS gateways are a joke. Apple and AT&T need to do something to make a decent MMS experience on the iPhone. I make the case here: http://blog.mcmanus-family.com/2008/09/the-case-for-mms-on-the-iphone.html
@BuddhaPratt: Did you try sending MMS before making the changes? I’m curious if anyone else having trouble can verify this method is working. Nice find if it is.
@HeySerGio: As long as you don’t remove the iPhone Data Plan then you shouldn’t have any issues w/ the visual voicemail. I believe the VVM is linked to the iPhone Data Plan, and has nothing to do w/ the messaging plans.
Hey Buddha,
What are the rest of your settings on?
successful settings for swirly using a 1st gen iphone
mmsc: mmsc.cingular.com
proxy: 066.209.011.032
apn: wap.cingular
username: wap@cingulargprs.com
password: CINGULAR1
image size: medium (probably doesn’t matter which size)
useragent: iphone
This worked for me!! Thank You!!
Sinner1649…You are my last hope. I have tried every combination of settings in every forum, spent much time with ATT on the phone….I am ready to shoot myself and end this misery. Odd thing is, I really do not use MMS a lot…just a quest now. Any chance you could hit me up at dhewes at gmail dot com? There will be a 6-pack in it for you
By the way, I have two ATT phones – a Tilt and an iPhone 3G 16GB v.2.1 software. I have an Unlimited Family Media Plan ($30/month, included unlimited text/MMS across all phones). I have called ATT who claims to have enabled MMS on my iPhone SIM. At this point I am 100% certain that it is the SIM settings. I say this because I can send MMS from my Tilt all day long and NOT from my iPhone (get the HTTP/403 Forbidden message). When I swap the SIM cards – and NOT CHANGE ANYTHING and I can send MMS via Swirly from the iPhone just fine (again, using Tilt SIM card) but not send from the Tilt (Using iPhone SIM card). (By the way, the Tilt SIM in the iPhone causes strange behavior – like a single voice mail shows up as 8 voice mails…but the phone works)
Spoke to several additional ATT reps yesterday. Normally I just play dumb…this time I figured I would use the POS 2/Snooper terms and just say that I know it can be done I have seen it. I was transfered around, finally getting in touch with a “Technical Services Manager”. I was told outright that yes, it can be done – but no, they will not do it. Apparently they know exactly how to do it – but there is an internal memo that she told me about saying that they are not allowed to do it. When I asked why, after paying them $400 a month for years now and proudly selling me a “multimedia phone” they refused to let me use the multimedia feature I was given the weakest answer I have ever heard:
“When we enable that feature we have to go in and manually configure our switches and this breaks other features for other users and isn’t fair to them.”
Uhhh….I configure routers and switches (amoung other things) for a living for nearly two decades….this would fall clearly under the catagory of “Complete Bullshit” for more reasons then I can list here.
Just on principal if I cannot resolve this in the next day or so this iPhone is going back to the store, and I am moving to Verizon.
does anyone know that proxy for mms.att.net?
Fabian – 066.209.011.032 is the correct proxy. With or without the leading zeros. I have taken the SIM card from my ATT Tilt and I can send MMS messages all day long with several different settings surprisingly. As soon as I stick the iPhone SIM back in, instant HTTP/403 Forbidden messages – without changing a single setting.
Bottom line, in my experience, 99% of the problems with Swirly is because of ATT and their unwillingness to cooperate and give their customers what they are paying for.
FINALLY – A SOLUTION THAT BYPASSES ATT:
OK, on another forum I found a solution that works and does not require you call ATT. Now, in this info it says to wait 10 minutes. Mine worked – but NOT until after I got a confirmation email like 12 hours later.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=583746
can confirm that the following steps will allow Swirly to work on your AT&T iPhone. I got this from the swirly forums and it worked for me.I think you need family plan with messaging on it also, which I do.
First, you will need a regular AT&T/Cingular phone. I used a old Nokia 2610. You should be able to use any phone as long as it is Media Net compatible.
Take the SIM from your iPhone, Insert it in to a standard phone, Make a phone call, wait about 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes go to the following link,
http://mymedianet.wireless.att.com/app/MC/Default.aspx
Enter in your mobile number(it might say your phone is not supported.. if so wait a little longer and try again), then at the next screen it will ask for a 4 digit code.
The 4 digit code will be sent to your phone via Text message.
Enter the code in on the website and then you should be able to access the main Media Net site.
Now send a mms. It will take some time for the network to recognize the phone. Be patient. Took me about 10 minutes. Dont continue until you have successfully sent a message.
Now take out the sim card and place it back in the iPhone.
Make sure the Swirly MMS Settings are as follows…
MMSC: mmsc.cingular.com
Proxy: 066.209.011.032
leave apn, username, and password fields blank..
Image Size: Maximum
UserAgent: Nokia_N95.
@DHewes I was so excited last night when I tried your solution and it worked. I sent several MMS messages and received 2 picture messages and one video message. I was happy as can be.
That is until this morning when I woke up to brag to my wife about it. She laughed because her rinky dink phone could do it and my iphone no longer works once again. SwirlyMMS works but I believe AT&T has ways of resetting stuff. I am going to try your steps again to get this to work to see how long it will last. Are you having any luck?
As of today it is still working for me. Thankfully ATT is so screwed up internally that they lack any ability to manage their own network with any consistency. Granted…it could die tomorrow… You could always try the direct approach – call them and tell them to enable SMS on your SIM in both SNOOPER and POS2 because you use that SIM in two different phone (one not being an iPhone). That does the same thing as my trick – but if you have the same experience I had you will be loading up on ammo and doing a MapQuest search for ATT’s call center location.
Sorry Guys i couldn’t find this site after i posted
So My settings were:
MMSC: mmsc.cingular.com
Proxy: 066.209.011.032
leave apn, username, and password fields blank..
Along with the other info in forum #60
Again worked great UNTIL,,,,,,,,,,,always has to me something!!
Until I bought it Then…….Doesn’t wanna wk!!!!!!!
Post 65 worked for me….once…It sent a message, i received it…then i tried to do it again, and a failure…and im running a 3G….so idk…i want this to work so bad but i think it’s a lost cause..
i have a blackberry pearl and i want an iphone so bad but i hate that i can’t send or recieve mms messages! i have media net and unlimited messages on my plan already so if i get the iphone from att and keep my old sim card from my pearl, can i use that sim card and the swirly app to mms message? will all the iphone features work or do i still have to add the iphone data plan?
i running 2.2 on a jailbroken 3g, with att the settings i used were
mmsc: http//:mmsc.cingular.com
proxy: wireless.cingular.com:80
apn,username,password are all left empty
works fine but i do have a family plan with messaging unlimited and the other phone is a blackjack 2
DHewes your solution worked for me. Thanks!
Off topic: Unfortunately in order to do this I had to put the sim card in my old Blackjack and I realized how much easier and more flexible it was to use, like the ability to cut&paste, sync flawlessly with Outlook Notes, move files back & forth, etc. Now I’m having second thoughts. I’ve been torturing myself with this iphone for a week now just trying to get it to do things that my old winmo device did out of the box. And if I ever get my hands on the addle-pated jerk who wrote iTunes I will wring his neck.
SwirlyMMS is awesome, I have it working perfectly with my iPhone 3G 2.2 in the UK on O2.
I had also had to call O2 asking them to enable MMS because i still use my N95 at weekends, haha
All works perfectly, nice little app, definitely worth $8
I think AT&T has wised up to this particular approach. When I called AT&T and asked if I could do this, they told me I could only have one plan active at a time and would need to call and switch IMEIs every time I switched between phones
I called as well and they said if I want to loose my IPhone data plan than I can add the Media Net Per Use” plan, but can only have one plan or the other. Bummer!!! I’m getting rid of this phone and getting the new BlackBerry!!!
I downloaded the proggy on my jalbroken 3G and my wife’s 2G as well. works fantanstic. I can actually send and recieve MMS with the iPhone. Now my iPhone is complete. Thanks to all dev team and supporters for all efforts. Forums provided a great source of info. If the proggy will not send and recieve it will show an error message of http/1.1403forbidden message! just call your service provider and tell them that your having problems sending with your old RZR or another phone. They will update your settings and they will walk you through a series of steps to update your device. It is really easy. good luck
Thanks DHewes, U r the best, I followed all the instructions just like u said & now my iphone can send & recieve mms, i actually had my family plan taking off & just had the unlimited txt package put on my iphone only & yes i did call tech support who only gave me the run around but one of my homegirls did all she could in the att store so that was a big help, so if anyone out the is having problem with a att agent contact me @ shortdawg823@yahoo.com & i will get u in contact with her so she can try & help us all that want pic txt finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
@Nic and others: If/when you got the 403 message, how long did it take to go away before your service worked? I called this morning and they put me on hold for ~10 minutes while they figured out how to get the MMS/SMS plan on my bill instead of the iphone SMS plan. I’m still getting the 403 and am wondering how long before I call them back because of the error. I’ll most likely claim I’m using a different phone.
Remarkably, they were fairly understanding once I made my point clear that I wasn’t backing down (I didn’t yell, I was very calm but stern). They said they had gotten calls about this before and also complaints about “viewmymessage.com” not working half the time.
Update: I called, had them resend the OTA, reset the VLRs and had them add the medianet pay-as-you-go. This removed my iPhone data plan but allowed me to send MMS. I then went online and added the data plan back and I’m still able to send and receive MMS (from myself to myself which is more than I was able to do before) and access the internet. I had to set up my voicemail again but I still have visual voicemail. I did lose all my previous voicemails, however. We’ll see how long it keeps working for. I’m crossing my fingers. If after 14 days it’s still working I’m purchasing SwirlyMMS
Hello all,
I’ve read the entire article and comments… And I’ll be calling ATT Support on Monday because it’s closed today on Sundays.
Could anyone help me with what specifically to ask them, etc? A comment here or an email would be great! (email is listed, hover over my name)
Thank you
Ivan
Eh sorry, I guess the email didn’t show.. it’s ivanpk [AT] gmail [DOT] com
The rep states that you can’t remove the data package and add media net pay as you go because it’s part of the “iPhone agreement”. WTF.
Ok I have the 3g 16g (which doesnt really frickin matter at this point LOL!!!)but I am totally lost and about to give up on the whole thing. Today I called ATT customer service and told them I want to be able to use my SIM in an old phone that I have to send MMS when I need to. Of course they they said to use the email feature, go figure right. I then told them that its sometimes a pain and I have friends whos phones dont have it or just dont know how to use it to get pics/vids. The rep I talked to then told me that removing my SIM might void my warranty and damage the other phone which I am putting it in cause some b/s that I really cant remember right now. So I need some serious help on this cause I would like to get Swirly, but could use the 8 bucks else where if I cant use it. So please someone, shed some frickin light on this subject for me so I can get it and atleast try. oh yeah and I dont have a family plan either.
I’m in the same boat. I have AT&T in Vermont and can’t activate Swirly. I have copied the several “this will work” messages and will try them in order. I will let you know whether I succeed.
Hey everyone. I dont know how but I didnt modify anything on my phone except change the user agent in swirly to samsung and I am able to send and received picture messages. I tried getting this to work in the past with no luck and I just tried again today and installed the new version released yesterday from cydia 1.3 and I sent and received a picture with no other modifications. Pretty strange. I did do what buddha said in the past so maybe it was still activated from before but it didnt work before and it works now. Ill cross my fingers that it doesnt decide to stop working for no reason.
I too just downloaded yesterday (3-3-09) and it all works for me, both send and receive. I’m using SwirlyMMS version 1.3 with a Jailbroke iPhone 3G running 2.2.1 firmware. I was able to send and receive from friends on TMobile as well as Verizon.
Yeah maybe they fixed something in version 1.3. It’s still working great for me.
squirrel and mountain… did you call att and try to add the media net plan or did it just work right out the box?
IT is not working for me …i see the notification that i have a message yet i cant retireve said messages…its killing me any suggestions
OK, has anyone else on AT&T is the US noticed this is working all of the sudden?!
On Wednesday 3/11/09 I installed SwirlyMMS and tried to do the workaround posted by DHewes above. I put my iPhone SIM in my old RAZR and I was able to make calls and log in to the MediaNET website with my phone number. I successfully received the 4 digit code in a text message on my RAZR and entered that in with no problem, however I was never able to send an MMS. I tried for about an hour and rebooted the RAZR several times but I just kept getting permission denied messages. Eventually I figured it was because I am on a single iPhone plan and not a family plan so it just wasn’t going to work. Bummer, I switched the SIM back to the iPhone, left SwirlyMMS installed and gave up for the night. I tried to send a couple tests the following day from Swirly but I got permission denied every time. The only thing I’ve done since then is updated Swirly to the most recent version.
Now this morning, I asked my girlfriend to send me an MMS because I had just installed MMS Buddy from the App Store and I wanted to test it. She sent it, and a few seconds later instead of my custom text message sound the phone made the tri-tone. Strange. I unlock it and I have no new text messages or emails. I’m thinking WTF? After a few seconds it dawns on me to go and check SwirlyMMS and sure enough, there was a 1 on the icon! A new message! I was able to open it with no problem, so I sent her one (think it would fail for sure) and she got it! So we sent a couple more back and forth and they all worked. She is also on AT&T, I’ve also now sent and received from a friend on T-Mobile with no problem and the messages only took a few seconds to arrive on both sides.
I’m not getting my hopes up too much because I’ve read pleanty of comments from people who had it work for hours or days and then stop but right now everything looks good. I’ll post back if it stops working.
I forgot to post my settings that are currently working:
MMSC: mmsc.cingular.com
Proxy: 66.209.11.32
APN:
Username:
Password:
Image Size: Medium
UserAgent: Nokia_N95
My settings (which are working) are different than most listed here, just thought if anyone out there was still having problems they could maybe try mine and see if they work
MMSC: mmsc.cingular.com
Proxy: 66.209.11.32
APN: wap.cingular
Username:
Password:
Image Size: Medium
UserAgent: iPhone
good luck.
Whoever rated SwirlyMMS as a 5 out of 5 for usability, hasn’t lived with it for more than a few hours. If you get a ton of MMS messages as I do, there are two MAJOR shortcomings:
1. The MMS notification of receipt doesn’t show on a locked iPhone screen, which is very different behavior to a SMS message which shows before you swipe to unlock the phone and read the message. This means more user activity required before the message is read and a major chance that the received message will go unnoticed.
2. There is no PURGE functionality for deleting more than 1 message at a time in SwirlyMMS. We use T-Mobile’s MMS email address to notify us when a server needs some attention and its possible with a major outtage to receive 100 MMS messages at once. Deleting these is a MAJOR pain in the rump. Not only is it hard to delete a single MMS message from the inbox as it is so easy to swipe the message and open it rather than deleting it, but SwirlyMMS lacks a full PURGE function to delete all messages. This might not be as big a deal if there was a ‘Mark all as Read’ option or something like that, but I’m getting really sick of having to manually delete each message individually so that I can see the indicator that a new message was received.
These are MAJOR issues for someone who relies on MMS messages for notifications and I have a big problem with the author of this article not identifying them by actually using the application up front. Sure, SwirlyMMS is the best of a limited number of solutions, but its far from being 5/5 for usability.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/preview-iphone-os/
I have to disagree with negative comments regarding usability. I’m not a power user, and I don’t anticipate sending many MMS messages – if that changes, I’ll have to upgrade my service plan – but I had absolutely no trouble installing and using SwirlyMMS. None. Nada. I was so impressed with the ease of use that I paid the $8 after sending myself one photo MMS. I live in Nebraska, and my carrier is Viaero; MMS messages are $.20 each but an unlimited Text/Image/Web plan would cost $20/mo on top of my existing plan. Then again, I may chat with Viaero and see if they can help me evaluate what’s best – not that I anticipate changing my mind…
FIVE STARS!!!!!!
I work at Viaero and am an iphone user myself. Its 20 bucks unlimited bud to upgrade. And we also have a guy who is good at using the iphone and can help you input your settings without using an app.
I just purchased an iphone 2g. I also have a viaro plan. Any chance you can tell me what the settings are to receive MMS? I called 611 this morning and they said they couldn’t give them to me.
After many days of trying to call AT&T and also speaking to Apple’s tech support I FINALLY got it working! Thanks to one of the posts in this forum!!!! Sweet! Finally works for me!
“john
December 19, 2008 • 9:00 pm
i running 2.2 on a jailbroken 3g, with att the settings i used were
mmsc: http//:mmsc.cingular.com
proxy: wireless.cingular.com:80
apn,username,password are all left empty
works fine but i do have a family plan with messaging unlimited and the other phone is a blackjack 2″
отправить ммс не могу