Review: SwirlyMMS vs. Flutter (Real iPhone MMS)
Author: Nic Elder | Posted under: Jailbreak, ReviewsTags: cydia, Jailbreak, mms, native apps
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
Jasmer on September 19th, 2008 at 5:06 am
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 on September 19th, 2008 at 10:07 am
@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.
Nic Elder on September 19th, 2008 at 10:17 am
@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 on September 19th, 2008 at 10:23 am
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.
Name... on September 19th, 2008 at 10:26 am
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…
Jeff Noble on September 19th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
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... on September 19th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
@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
Nic Elder on September 19th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
@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
Nic Elder on September 19th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
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?
Jasmer on September 19th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
@Nic: I think it matters how knowledgeable/helpful your ATT rep is as well. I’m calling again…
Jeff Noble on September 19th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
@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.
Nic Elder on September 19th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
@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
Nic Elder on September 19th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
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.
sinner1649 on September 19th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
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.
Jeff Noble on September 19th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I’m not too worried about mms charges, im worried about media net charges : (
sinner1649 on September 19th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
call your local agent!
sinner1649 on September 19th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
tell them to try it in pos 2………
sinner1649 on September 19th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
@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.
Nic Elder on September 19th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I know I did the same thing. : ) But AT&T reps sometimes just make up stuff. Oh well we shall see.
sinner1649 on September 19th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
did ya figure it out Jeff?
sinner1649 on September 19th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Pos 2.. The response was “That’s not even our system. I can’t access that.”
Jeff Noble on September 19th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
exactly. Call an agent. Thats what we use.
sinner1649 on September 19th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
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.
BG on September 19th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
how bout you email me and fix me up?
Jeff Noble on September 19th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Wish I could bud…I only have access to Missouri : (
sinner1649 on September 19th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Uh-oh… that’s the issue. You guys hate the Razorbacks..!
Jeff Noble on September 19th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
lolololol go mizzou!
sinner1649 on September 19th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Woooooooooooooo. Pig. Soooooie. (I’m actually not that big a fan, but I can call the Hogs with the best of them.)
Jeff Noble on September 19th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
@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.
Nic Elder on September 19th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
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
sinner1649 on September 19th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
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.
Daniel on September 19th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
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
sinner1649 on September 19th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
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 Noble on September 20th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
@Jeff: if you put your SIM into your sons phone, can you send an MMS?
Nic Elder on September 20th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
@Nic: Nope. I can’t.
Jeff Noble on September 20th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
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
Scorpion44 on September 21st, 2008 at 12:54 am
[...] via [appleiphoneapps] [...]
Mandare MMS Con iPhone, Quale Scegliere Tra SwirlyMMS E Flutter | 3 sul Blog - Tech, Fun e Web 2.0 on September 21st, 2008 at 1:10 am
Anybody figure it out?
sinner1649 on September 22nd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
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.
josh11 on September 23rd, 2008 at 6:39 am
hey nic you still around??
sinner1649 on September 25th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
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.
Andrew on September 26th, 2008 at 5:13 am
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..
Andrew on September 26th, 2008 at 5:18 am
@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.
Nic Elder on September 26th, 2008 at 8:43 am
well I will have national access to accounts by the 1st : )
sinner1649 on September 27th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
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 !!
T.H. on September 27th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
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?
maria on September 28th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
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.
sinner1649 on September 28th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
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.
Aaron on September 29th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
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
hcpc on September 30th, 2008 at 9:49 am
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.
Jeff Noble on September 30th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
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?
Marcus Lathan on October 1st, 2008 at 2:56 pm
So how can you really get it to work with the family plan (which i have) im just a lil confuse lil help .. ?? thx
Chris on October 5th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
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
Deacon Brian on October 12th, 2008 at 12:06 am
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?
motaaa on October 12th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
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!
Sean Constantine on October 19th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
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
Alan R on October 20th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
How do i get internet settings to my iphone 1st gen
Gregory on October 21st, 2008 at 2:38 am
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?
Fabian on October 23rd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
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
BuddhaPratt on October 26th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Buddha, do you still have the voicemail feature working?? I hear that it disables some features.. everything still working the same including 3g??
HeySerGio on October 26th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
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
Drew McManus on October 27th, 2008 at 6:30 am
@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.
Nic Elder on October 27th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Hey Buddha,
What are the rest of your settings on?
fabian on October 27th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
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
tallguy65 on October 30th, 2008 at 12:53 am
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
DHewes on November 3rd, 2008 at 9:43 am
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)
DHewes on November 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
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.
DHewes on November 4th, 2008 at 7:10 am
does anyone know that proxy for mms.att.net?
Fabian on November 4th, 2008 at 9:17 am
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.
DHewes on November 4th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
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 on November 5th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
@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?
Rodrigo Munoz on November 6th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
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.
DHewes on November 14th, 2008 at 8:43 am
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!!!!!!!
BuddhaPratt on November 18th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
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..
Chris on December 6th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
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?
shaun on December 11th, 2008 at 6:59 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
john on December 19th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
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.
Name...Gorby on December 25th, 2008 at 3:10 pm