What do MMS and SMS mean? What is the difference?

SMS (Short Message Service) is a short message service. It is the earliest short message service and the most popular short message service at present. Through it, mobile phones can send and receive short messages to each other, and the content is mainly text, numbers or binary non-text data. At present, the length of this short message is limited to 140 bytes. Short message has been welcomed by many users because of its simple and convenient use function, and it has spread rapidly. However, it is always the first generation wireless data service, which is limited by technical standards in content and application.

express mail service (EMS)

EMS (enhanced short message service) means enhanced short message service in Chinese. Compared with SMS, it has the advantage that it can not only send short text information like SMS, but also send simple information such as images, sounds and animations. Its greater advantage is that EMS can still run on the GSM network where SMS was originally run, and there is no difference in sending mode and operation method. The standard is open, so any third-party company or individual interested in EMS can develop application software and services on this platform. However, due to the incompatibility of technologies of mobile phone brands, the above-mentioned mutual transmission can only be realized between mobile phones of the same brand in actual use, and the practicability needs to be further improved.

Multimedia Messaging Service

MMS is the abbreviation of multimedia messaging service, which is also called "MMS" in Chinese. It is the latest service developed according to the standards of 3GPP and WAP forums related to multimedia information. Its biggest feature is that it supports multimedia functions. With the support of GPRS, CDMA 1X, 3G and EDGE, WAP wireless application protocol is used as the carrier to transmit video clips, pictures, sounds and characters. The transmission mode can be not only between mobile phones, but also between mobile phones and computers. The mobile phone with MMS function is unique in its built-in media editor, which enables users to write multimedia information conveniently. If the mobile phone has a built-in or external camera, users can make information or electronic postcards in PowerPoint format and send them to friends or colleagues. At present, this application service has gradually matured and become the mainstream short message format.

MMS is the "third generation short message service" after SMS and EMS. Text messages can only be sent and received. EMS can add ringtones, simple graphics and simple animations to short messages. MMS greatly expands the types of media that can be sent and received. Text, simple pictures and ringtones can be transmitted. Complex pictures such as photos, big pictures, music clips and video clips can better play the role of MMS.

The industrial standard of MMS is formulated by WAP Forum and 3GPP (3G Partnership Project). Therefore, MMS is designed to run on the upper layer of WAP protocol, not limited to transmission format, but also supports circuit-switched data format and general packet radio service format. Its working principle is to use the high-speed transmission technology edge (enhanced data rate GSM e-transmission), which is a new technology to improve the data rate and a transition step from GSM to the third generation mobile communication system IMT-2000. It is also called GSM 384, because this technology can increase the data rate from the current 9.6kbit/s to 384kbit/s, and can support many high-speed data services such as voice, Internet browsing, e-mail, conference TV and so on. With the support of GPRS, WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) is used as the carrier to transmit videos, pictures, sounds and characters.