MMS With iPhone 3.0 On iPhone 3G [Updated]

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iPhone 3G With 3.0 When I the create the post, To iPhone 3G S or Not?, I was not able to enable the MMS function on my iPhone 3G.

Before I explain how to enable MMS on an iPhone 3G running the iPhone 3.0 firmware, let me explain my context.

My iPhone 3G is the officially “SIM unlocked” version of the iPhone 3G directly from Apple Online Store Hong Kong. It capacity happens to be a 16GB version. I installed the iPhone 3.0 firmware “Golden Master” version onto my iPhone.

The following applies to any carrier situations, no matter whether the carrier in question is an official carrier partner with Apple in the country.

[Update: 12:10, June 18, 2009]
Added MMS settings for PCCW. Please note that these settings had not been tested on the iPhone. Please leave a note in the Comment section if you’re a PCCW customer and tried it on your iPhone 3G.

[Update: 13:01, June 18, 2009]
Thanks to reader Jon for pointing out the typo in the MMSC for Smartone-Vodafone.

[Update: 14:01, June 18, 2009]
I just received some news from Smartone-Vodafone that contradicts the information I received from them in two separate occasions, which is the fact that they do not charge their customers for receiving MMS.

The latest information is that they will charge HKD0.04/KB; a maximum of HKD12.00/MMS, to receive MMS.

This comes back to my original point I always had with MMS, the technology will not get wide adoptions and acceptances by consumers until the carriers remove these ridiculous pricing.

I for one will not use it!

I encourage all to not use it and ensure you do not pay the fees to show our disgust.

[Update: 17:11, June 18, 2009]
Thanks to reader Karay who pointed to a person calling himself “markmall_hk” on UWants.com, I have now updated the MMS settings for all mobile carriers in Hong Kong.

[Update: 01:10, June 20, 2009]
Added settings for CTM in Macau.

[Update: 01:20, June 20, 2009]
Thanks to reader Niels for the China Unicom 3G settings in mainland China.

[Update: 01:30, June 20, 2009]
Thanks to reader Ju for confirming the settings for PEOPLE.

[Update: 15:10, June 20, 2009]
Thanks to reader Todd for confirming the settings for CSL

[Update: 22:00, June 23, 2009]
Thanks to the folks at iPhoneHacks.com we now have a set of instructions for our US friends who are stuck with AT&T.

[Update: 12:15, June 24, 2009]
Thanks to reader Filipe for supplying the settings for CTM Macau non-prepaid SIM card customers.

[Update: 16:00, June 25, 2009]
I just double checked Smartone-Vodafone’s web site and it clearly states that “3G SmarTone-Vodafone customers” can receive MMS for FREE.

So I do not understand why the previous Customer Service representative claims that I have to pay the HKD0.04/KB when I clearly told her that I was on a 3G plan, plus she had my account opened in front of her.

[Update: 12:00, June 26, 2009]
Added the instructions to enable to the “Cellular Data Network” option within the Network settings pane.

How to Enable MMS on iPhone 3.0

Ensure you have a 3G plan with your mobile carrier. A data plan is not necessary with regards to MMS.
Ensure the carrier had not blocked the MMS function from your account. In Hong Kong most carriers would not do so, unless you request them to do so.

On your iPhone go to the Settings -> General -> Network -> Cellular Data Network settings and input the MMS settings specific for your carrier. The exact values for each of the fields will depends on your carrier. Do not worry if your carrier representative tells you that they do not support the iPhone. Be assertive and obtain the MMS settings: APN, Username, Password and MMSC. Most carriers would not have a Username or Password.

If you do not see the “Cellular Data Network” option within the Settings -> General -> Network settings you can do one of the following depending on which OS you’re on.

Operating System	Steps
OS X	Close iTunes. Start the Terminal (found in the /Applications/Utilities folder). Execute the command: defaults write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUE
Windows 32-bit	Close iTunes. Go to Start then Run and type CMD. Execute the command: “C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe” /setPrefInt carrier-testing 1
Windows 64-bit	Close iTunes. Go to Start then Run and type CMD. Execute the command: “C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunes.exe” /setPrefInt carrier-testing 1

The following are the settings. Note that the APN is case sensitive.

Carrier	Settings
Smartone-Vodafone	APN = smartone-vodafone MMSC = http://mms.smartone-vodafone.com/server MMS Proxy = 10.9.9.9
PCCW 3G	APN = pccw MMSC = http://3gmms.pccwmobile.com:8080/was MMS Proxy = 10.140.14.10:8080
PCCW 2G	APN = pccwmms MMSC = http://mmsc.mms.pccwmobile.com:8002 MMS Proxy = 10.131.2.8:8080
3 HK	APN = mobile.three.com.hk MMSC = http://172.20.99.240:10021/mmsc Username = 3 Password = 1234 MMS Proxy = 172.020.097.116:8799
CSL	APN = hkcsl MMSC = http://192.168.58.171:8002 MMS Proxy = 192.168.59.51:8080
New World	APN = mms MMSC = http://mmsc.nwmobility.com:8002 MMS Proxy = 192.168.111.1
Peoples	APN = peoples.mms MMSC = http://mms.peoples.com.hk/mms MMS Proxy = 172.031.031.036:8080
CTM Macau	APN = ctmprepaid MMSC = http://mms.wap.ctm.net:8002 MMS Proxy = 192.168.99.3:8080
CTM Macau (non-prepaid SIM)	APN = ctmmms MMSC = http://mms.wap.ctm.net:8002 MMS Proxy = 192.168.99.3:8080 MMS Max Message Size = 307200
China Unicom 3G (China)	APN = uniwap MMSC = http://mmsc.myuni.com.cn MMS Proxy = 10.0.0.172

The “MMS Max Message Size” settings is optional but Smartone-Vodafone has a size limit of 307200 (300KB) where they charge HKD3.00/MMS.
For the PCCW settings you may want to try it first without the MMS Proxy settings.

After these information are entered, you will need to restart your iPhone. Hold the Power button until the slider comes up asking you to slide to the right to shutdown the iPhone. Go ahead and shutdown your iPhone and then restart it.
When the iPhone had restarted, on your iPhone go to the Settings -> Messages settings and ensure MMS is turned on. You can optionally turn on “Show Subject Field” if you like.

You should see an extra Camera icon when you compose a message in the Messages (previously known as “SMS”) application.

In the Photo album application you will see an extra option to share your photo via MMS.

Please feel free to leave settings for your respective carriers in the comments and I will update the table above.

Tagged as: 3, 3 HK, AT&T, China Unicom, CSL, CTM, iPhone 3.0, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G S, iPhone 3GS, MMS, New World, pccw, PEOPLE, Smartone-Vodafone

nick
I have followed through every steps but still i am not able to send a picture :(
I am using an iphone 3g with 3 HK as my service carrier
do u know what might be the problem?
Vinko
The issue you're experiencing may be due to the latest modemConfig file that 3 HK is sending out, which you may have installed during one of the recent updates.

Since 3 HK is charging its customers for MMS capabilities you can always ask 3 HK to activate the feature for your iPhone.

Although, as I have said in my post, do you really want to use MMS? When carriers are imposing high charges to both the sender and receiver of the MMS.
James
Vinko,
Anyone on the CMCC carrier with suggestions on the setting?
Genevive
I have a hong kong phone and using it on tmobile in the US. I called tmobile they gave me the settings. I can send but can not recieve, I get this message The media content was not included due to a picture resolution or message size restriction. My phone is factory unlocked 3gs 3.1.2 I have tried jailbreaking doesnt work. I am lose as what to do.
What settings I am to use.
Vinko
Most carriers have a 300KB limit for each MMS. You may want to ask the sender to reduce the image size to try again.

BTW: was the sender on T-Mobile also? Are you able to get to your iPhone's Cellular Data settings? If so you should set the "MMS Max Message Size" to 307200. These are just suggestions I do not know if it will help. Anyone on T-Mobile with or without the iPhone please help.