News
AT&T ‘very’ nervous ahead of iPhone MMS launch
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
News Category: iPhone
AT&T is rushing to reinforce its MMS messaging infrastructure ahead of the planned September 25 iPhone MMS launch, according to DSLReports. Citing people involved with the launch, the article states that AT&T is “very” nervous about the launch after seeing “record traffic” from the small group of test iPhone users for whom MMS is already active. The company reportedly had a fairly significant outage yesterday that has resulted in the beefing up of their MMSC messaging servers; estimates from those working on the project suggest traffic on AT&T’s network may spike as much as 40% on Friday as newly MMS-capable iPhone users test the feature out. According to the report, the company plans to activate iPhone users in waves, with the first group receiving a mass SMS message at around 10 a.m. Eastern Time, and continuing throughout the day, assuming all goes well.
Update: AT&T has posted a message on its Facebook page, stating that the MMS rollout will begin “late morning” Pacific Time on Friday. The full message reads, “[w]e know you’ve been eager for this service so we wanted to offer a quick update on the launch plans for MMS on Friday, Sept. 25. Late morning, Pacific Time, on Friday, the new carrier settings update enabling MMS should be live and ready to download through iTunes. We’ll provide the steps and all of the details you need right here at that time.”
Related Stories
- Apple airs new Siri-focused iPhone 4S ads
- Apple asks European standards body to set Frand rules
- iPhone accounts for 40% of new Sprint customers in Q4 2011
- Key iPhone, iPod executive left Apple last year
- Motorola sought lucrative royalty on iPhone, iPad sales
- AT&T explains ‘unlimited data’ user throttling, blames users?
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- iLounge Weekly coming early Monday, giveaway reminder
- iBackFlip launches Somersault case for iPad
- Motorola loses third patent case against Apple in Germany
- Apple rushing to pick demo apps for next iPad launch
- Apple airs new Siri-focused iPhone 4S ads
- Periscope Audio Lab releases SpaceSampler
- Evernote Hello improves contact entry features
- eMailGanizer Pro adds Universal Inbox, Smart Folders
- Scosche rolls out bassDock for iPad
- German court rejects Apple bid to ban Galaxy 10.1N
Recent Reviews
- Cygnett Apollo for iPhone 4/4S
- Case-Mate Pop! ID for iPhone 4/4S
- Case-Mate Pop! for iPhone 4/4S
- Case-Mate Pop! With Stand for iPhone 4/4S
- Solid Line Products RightShift 2 Removable Keyboard Case for iPad 2
- Spigen SGP Kuel F60Q Battery Pack
- Just Mobile Highway + Highway Pro for iPod, iPhone + iPad
- Speck CandyShell and CandyShell Satin for iPhone 4/4S
- Jensen JiPS-310i Docking Speaker for iPod, iPhone & iPad
- FrappeDesign Smart Sleeve for iPad 2
Recent Articles
- iOS Gems: Adventures of Tintin, Reckless Racing 2 + Scramble With Friends
- Ask iLounge 2-3-12
- Making The Case For - And Against - An Apple iTV Television
- Instant Expert: iTunes U for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch
- Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iBooks 2.0
- iLounge’s 2012 CES Best of Show Awards: Honorable Mentions
- iLounge’s 2012 CES Best of Show Awards: iPod, iPhone, iPad + Mac
- iOS Gems: Bug Princess, Dora Hops Into Phonics, It’s A Small World, Sleepy Jack + X Is For X-Ray
- The Complete Guide to Managing iTunes Videos
- Editorial: As CES Grows, Will Microsoft’s Loss Be Apple’s Gain?
1
I do not see why AT&T did not opt for a staggered roll out. They could have chosen to push this to blocks of users in increments over, let’s say, two weeks.
There will undoubtedly be those “I just want to use it because it is new” folks that will initially bog down the system. But in all reality, who just sits around texting pictures and videos all day? After the “shine” wears off the crisis should be over.
AT&T just has not handled this iPhone deal very well. They are never prepared it seems. Didn’t they learn a lesson from the fiasco with activation at both the original and 3G iPhone launches? T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon ALL have high end smartphones that have had this MMS capability all along. It doesn’t seem to stop their networks cold.
Posted by Mitch on September 24, 2009 at 6:04 AM (PDT)
2
Glad to see that they stuck to the plan and got it out before summer was over…Oh, wait Fall started a couple of days ago. I agree though, it should have been rolled out in waves. It’s too bad that so many corporations don’t seem to care about their customers and how they should be treated more fairly, but until we quit putting up with it, it will never change.
Posted by Gabe on September 24, 2009 at 6:45 AM (PDT)
3
I foresee AT&T’s network going down and a slew of problems in the near future. It’s amazing how far behind the times AT&T is!!! I can’t wait for Verizon to get the iPhone so i can switch carriers! I want the 3GS but I’m not signing another 2 year contract with the worst carrier. So far I have tolerated it but once this launches and even more problems start…problems that should have been worked out years and tears ago I’ll be ready to jump.
AT&T get a clue! It’s almost 2010, lets catch up with the rest of the world huh?!
Posted by Johnny L on September 24, 2009 at 7:21 AM (PDT)