What does MMS stand for?

The acronym MMS stands for “Multimedia Messaging Service.” Most people, however, refer to MMS as picture messaging, even though it supports more than just images.

Does it cost more to send an MMS?

Yes, MMS messages cost more to send than standard SMS text messages. While seemingly silly, MMS consumes a lot more technical resources to encode and deliver a message than standard SMS. Most SMS / MMS marketing services charge by message credits. A single SMS uses one credit while an MMS uses three. Sometimes, depending on the situation, we’re willing to reduce the number of credits MMS messages use to help our customers.

How many characters can I use in an MMS?

MMS supports far more characters than standard SMS. MMS messages can be up to 1,600 characters in length while SMS only supports up to 160.

What file types can I send?

MMS supports several different file types however it also varies by the type of number you’re sending from. Typically, all numbers support PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF and animated GIF. Short codes also support PDF, MP4 and VFC files.

Can I send MMS messages in any country?

While MMS is supported by all numbers in the US, it surprisingly isn’t supported in very many other countries. If you’re looking to send media internationally, we recommend you send an SMS with a link to your file.

Does MMS have file size limitations?

Technically, yes MMS messages have file size limits. Those limits vary by carrier as well. With that said, you don’t have to worry about that with our service. We automatically compress, optimize and encode your files for each carrier to ensure the best possible delivery.

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What is MMS Marketing?

MMS marketing is the use of Multimedia Messaging Service to send promotional or informational text messages that include rich media. Depending on the sender type and carrier, an MMS may contain an image, GIF, video, audio file, or contact card, along with more text than a standard SMS message.

Businesses commonly use MMS for:

Product launches
Promotional offers
Digital coupons
Event invitations
Restock announcements
Menu or product images
Contact cards
Branded reminders
Customer support conversations

The same consent covers both SMS and MMS marketing, but you must obtain it before sending promotional messages. MMS marketing with a mass texting service uses the power of pictures and various media to make your message unignorable, increasing engagement rates and generating a higher ROI.

Millennial receives a restock reminder text from his favorite shoe store.

How is MMS Different From SMS?

MMS can be looked at as an enhanced version of SMS. While in everyday life we may refer to both as simple text messages, there are two key differences that businesses should understand.

In addition to text, multimedia messaging allows for the inclusion of rich media content such as images, video, contact cards, and audio.

MMS messages have a much larger character limit. They support up to 1,600 characters of text while SMS has a limit of 160.

Most businesses benefit from using both. Choose SMS when a short text is enough. Choose MMS when the visual itself helps communicate the message or improve the customer experience.

Start Sending MMS Today

Young woman clicks an SMS marketing campaign for her favorite ecommerce store.

Why MMS Marketing is a Great Choice

MMS marketing provides four key benefits to businesses and their customers.

Enhanced Customer Experience

MMS marketing helps your customers quickly understand your message and feel more connected to your brand.

Greater ROI

Increased engagement leads to more purchases from your SMS subscribers. Pair your text blasts with great visuals and watch your revenue rise.

Increased Engagement

Because multimedia messaging attracts more attention than SMS, it naturally achieves higher engagement rates. Not only do more people read the messages and interact with the content, they are also up to eight times more likely to share your brand with friends.

More Space for Characters and Emojis

Sometimes you just can't communicate what you need to in a 160 character block of text. Multimedia messaging allows you to include emojis in your message and provides enough space to type out ten times as many characters as SMS.

Frequently Asked MMS Marketing Questions

While the concept of MMS marketing is relatively simple and straightforward, we do field a handful of commonly asked questions.

What does MMS stand for?: The acronym MMS stands for “Multimedia Messaging Service.” Most people, however, refer to MMS as picture messaging, even though it supports more than just images.

How many characters can I use in an MMS?: MMS supports far more characters than standard SMS. MMS messages can be up to 1,600 characters in length while SMS only supports up to 160.

Can I send MMS messages in any country?: While MMS is supported by all numbers in the US, it surprisingly isn’t supported in very many other countries. If you’re looking to send media internationally, we recommend you send an SMS with a link to your file.

Does it cost more to send an MMS?: Yes, MMS messages cost more to send than standard SMS text messages. While seemingly silly, MMS consumes a lot more technical resources to encode and deliver a message than standard SMS. Most SMS / MMS marketing services charge by message credits. A single SMS uses one credit while an MMS uses three. Sometimes, depending on the situation, we’re willing to reduce the number of credits MMS messages use to help our customers.

What types of files can I send?: MMS supports several different file types however it also varies by the type of number you’re sending from. Typically, all numbers support PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF and animated GIF. Short codes also support PDF, MP4 and VCF files.

Does MMS have file size limitations?: Technically, yes MMS messages have file size limits. Those limits vary by carrier as well. With that said, you don’t have to worry about that with our service. We automatically compress, optimize and encode your files for each carrier to ensure the best possible delivery.

Why You Should Choose SlickText as Your MMS Marketing Service

With various MMS marketing services available, choosing the right solution is an important decision. Here are three reasons why our group texting service is your best bet.

Intelligent Image Optimization

SlickText handles the various file size restrictions defined by each of the cellular carriers and intelligently optimizes your images to ensure the best quality media lands on your customers' devices. This results in more engagement and better redemption rates.

Auto SMS Fallback

While almost all carriers in the U.S. support multimedia messaging, there is still between 1% and 2% that cannot receive pictures from short codes. Our MMS marketing software will auto-convert those people's messages into SMS and provide a link to the media you are trying to send.

Better Delivery Rates

Some MMS marketing services are finding sneaky ways of saving money by using cheaper methods to send your messages, which can leave a lot of messages undelivered. We use the best possible carrier routes to ensure your messages are delivered every time.

Young professional receives a promotional text message delivered by SlickText.

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