MMS Centre – MMS Relay/Server
The MMS Relay/Server also known as the MMSC is a key network element in the MMS architecture this element is responsible for storing and managing messages, associated reports and notifications.
The MMSC interconnects with other messaging systems (SMSC, e-mail servers etc) this ensures that MMS subscribers can exchange messages with internet users and subscribers who don’t have MMS capable mobiles.
An MMSC usually provides two different transport modes for the delivery of multimedia messages to recipient MMS user agent
An MMSC always supports at least the batch Mode which consists of delivering the entire message with all its attachments prior to being presented to the recipient subscriber.
An MMSC may support the Streaming mode which allows parts of message to rendered on-the-fly by the recipient MMS User Agent while the message content is being transferred.
Big disadvantage of the batch mode resides in the fact that the entire Multimedia Message has to be transferred and stored 1st before being presented to the recipient of the MMS
This method requires large storage capacity from the receiving handset, unlike the batch mode, the streaming delivery allows large amount of message content to be rendered by the receiving device even if the device has very limited storage capacities
Another function of the recipient MMSE to identify the capabilities of a receiving MMS handset before message retrieval is done.
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