![\"SMS-Vs-MMS\"](\"https:\/\/justcall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sms-vs-mms.png\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat is SMS (Short Message Service)?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
An SMS is an abbreviation for Short Messaging Service. It is commonly known as texting, and this form of messaging allows the transmission of simple text-only messages over traditional cellular networks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
SMS messages are limited to just 160 characters. And the best part? You don’t need an internet connection to send or receive them, meaning that you only need a mobile network signal to send them!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"What](\"https:\/\/justcall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/What-is-SMS-_Short-Message-Service-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAn Overview of SMS in Numbers<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Let\u2019s take a sneak peek into the world of SMS messaging through the following statistics:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- As of 2021,\u00a023 billion texts<\/a>\u00a0are sent out daily across the world! That\u2019s a whopping 270,000 SMS messages per second!<\/li>\r\n
- On average,\u00a077.6%\u00a0of phone users spend their time checking, sending, and answering texts – an activity that is far more common than social media (72.9%), email (56.5%), and even phone calls (41.7%).<\/li>\r\n
- The average American spends\u00a038 hours per week<\/a>\u00a0on their phone; and 94% of that time goes into texting, which is approximately 36 hours per week – nearly 22% of a whole week!<\/li>\r\n
- Nine in ten people open their text message – that\u2019s an open rate of nearly\u00a090%<\/a>!<\/li>\r\n
- At the same time,\u00a062%<\/a>\u00a0of consumers have subscribed to receive text message updates from at least one business between 2020 and 2021. On average, consumers are subscribed to receive texts from at least 1 to 3 businesses.<\/li>\r\n
- However,\u00a060%<\/a>\u00a0of consumers would unsubscribe immediately if they were to receive too many SMS messages. They would prefer to typically receive a single text every other week.<\/li>\r\n
- More than\u00a060%<\/a>\u00a0of mobile phone users respond to an SMS message within 1-2 minutes of receiving them.<\/li>\r\n
- 75%<\/a>\u00a0of consumers prefer being contacted by businesses through text messages, especially for deals and offers.<\/li>\r\n
- Even during the pandemic,\u00a083%<\/a>\u00a0of US teens turned to texting to stay in touch with friends and family – a market share significantly larger than calling (72%) and social media (66%).<\/li>\r\n
- 96%<\/a>\u00a0of adults in the US own a cellphone. However, only 85% of these are connected to the internet. As such, roughly 52.5 million Americans can only be reached through SMS messages.<\/li>\r\n
- On the global front, about\u00a05 billion<\/a>\u00a0people own a cellphone, of which a massive 2.29 billion can only be reached through text messaging.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
SMS Limitations and Restrictions<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
But, as with everything in life, SMS too has its set of limitations and drawbacks\u2013<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
1. Character Constraint<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
SMS has a limited number of characters, which can be frustrating for users, which breaks lengthy messages into multiple texts.
This is why sending lengthier SMS messages requires additional effort and time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n2. Low Tolerance for Unwanted Text Messages<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Consumers have a low tolerance for unsolicited text messages, resulting in higher opt-out rates than email or social media marketing. This is why businesses must reduce the frequency of such messages.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
3. Intrusive Enterprise Communications<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
In the absence of an explicit opt-in\/opt-out procedure, the personal nature of SMS messaging may make business communications appear intrusive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
This is why\u00a0businesses must have an explicit opt-in process to avoid being seen as spammy or intrusive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
4. Security Concerns<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
SMS messages are not secured by end-to-end encryption, which makes them less secure than channels such as email. They are susceptible to hacking, which puts sensitive data at risk.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
5. Omnichannel Marketing Management<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Due to the rise of omnichannel marketing, the addition of SMS messaging to the marketing mix would necessitate more administration and integration with other channels.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
This would make managing SMS campaigns difficult and time-consuming.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
6. Difficulties in SMS List Growth<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Growing an SMS list can be challenging, particularly for enterprises that are just starting out. This is because building an SMS list requires considerable time and resources, such as creating engaging content and promoting opt-ins.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
SMS Benefits and Uses<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Even though SMSes lack the frills and graces of multimedia messaging, they are still an efficient and accessible method of communication, which have quite a few benefits, as seen below:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
1. Effective and concise communication<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
SMS messages are concise and direct, which makes them simple to read and easy to comprehend.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
2. Support for Carriers and Cost-Effectiveness<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
A majority of network carriers permit and support messaging, with some even providing unlimited SMS plans. This shows that SMS transmissions are less expensive and more reliable than, say, phone calls, etc.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
3. Convenient to send<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
SMS messages can be sent and received from any location, save those devoid of a network, which makes them an easily accessible form of communication.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
4. Based on permission and compliant<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
SMS messaging is permission-based, which means that users don’t receive messages unless they want to, which displays respect for the user’s time and privacy.
SMS messages also conform to regulatory standards better than other marketing channels.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n5. Effective Two-Way Interaction<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
SMS messages establish a two-way communication channel with consumers, which allows for engaging conversations with them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
This method is more effective as compared to advertisements, etc. which are merely broadcast, and thereby do not provide a medium to consumers for responding to them.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
6. Superior Efficiency and Aiming<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
SMS messages have higher read, open, click-through, and response rates than other marketing channels. This is why they can be used for targeted campaigns because mobile phones are typically unique and extremely limited.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n![\"MMS-in-marketing\"](\"https:\/\/justcall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Using-MMS-in-your-marketing.png\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service. An MMS message is an SMS message containing multimedia assets such as:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- Images<\/li>\r\n
- Videos<\/li>\r\n
- Audio clips<\/li>\r\n
- Emojis<\/li>\r\n
- Website links<\/li>\r\n
- GIFs<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Due to the requirement for the transmission of text and media, the traditional cellular network may not be adequate for sending or receiving MMSes<\/a><\/strong>. Therefore, an active data connection is required to transmit or receive MMS messages.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
An Overview of MMS in Numbers<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
To understand the world of opportunities presented by MMS messaging, let\u2019s consider the following figures:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- Unlike SMS messaging, which was introduced in the 1980s, MMS is a fairly new technology that debuted in 2002 and became mainstream only around 2004-2005.<\/li>\r\n
- About\u00a0387.5 billion<\/a>\u00a0MMS messages were sent globally in 2016.<\/li>\r\n
- The global number of smartphone users is expected to touch\u00a06.8 billion<\/a>\u00a0by 2023. Such an expansion will also increase the user base that can receive MMS messages.<\/li>\r\n
- Given that\u00a04.32 billion<\/a>\u00a0smartphone owners are already connected to the internet, sending and receiving MMS has become progressively easier.<\/li>\r\n
- MMS messages have a\u00a098%<\/a>\u00a0read rate and are often opened within 90 seconds of being received.<\/li>\r\n
- MMS messages receive\u00a0300%<\/a>\u00a0more engagement than text-only SMS messages.<\/li>\r\n
- 93%<\/a>\u00a0of consumers consider visual imagery to be a clinching factor in the purchase decision, which makes a strong case for MMS marketing.<\/li>\r\n
- 50%\u00a0<\/a>of buyers say that they are more likely to visit a store upon receiving a text embedded with visual elements.<\/li>\r\n
- 85%<\/a>\u00a0of shoppers are more likely to purchase a product if it is promoted through a video sent by text. Such a strategy increases message recall by 45% and brand recall by 33%.<\/li>\r\n
- MMS messages are\u00a08x<\/a>\u00a0more likely to be shared.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
MMS Capabilities and Features<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
MMSes generally have a number of benefits that make them an appealing option for businesses seeking to improve their communication and marketing efforts, as seen below:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
1. Content that is customizable and personalized<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
MMSes enable businesses to send:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- Diverse<\/li>\r\n
- Personalized<\/li>\r\n
- Branded<\/li>\r\n
- Individualized content<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
They integrate the advantages of email and texting, making it possible to send engaging messages.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
2. Impressive and Interactive<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
MMS messages are significantly more engaging and interactive, increasing the effectiveness of your campaign.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
This is because they can send the following along with messages, with the help of which they can produce more engaging, audience-resonant content:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- Images<\/li>\r\n
- Videos, and audio<\/li>\r\n
- GIFs, etc.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
3. More detailed and lengthy messages<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Owing to fewer restrictions, businesses can send lengthier, interactive, and informative messages. This enables them to include the following in their messages:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- Comprehensive information<\/li>\r\n
- Product demonstrations<\/li>\r\n
- Interactive product catalogs in their messages<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
4. Increased Engagement and Sharing<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
MMSes offer the following, which make them an efficient communication and marketing channel:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- 15% higher CTR<\/li>\r\n
- 20% fewer unsubscribed<\/li>\r\n
- 8 times greater shareability than SMS<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
5. Improved Performance Evaluation<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
MMS campaigns are simpler to evaluate due to the fact that MMS messages require retrieval, indicating an active interest.
SMS messages, on the other hand, can only be opened, not read, making it more challenging to gauge the level of interest.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMMS Limitations and Restrictions<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
MMSes also have some disadvantages that enterprises must consider prior to implementation, namely:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
1. Higher Price<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Sending or receiving MMS messages requires both a traditional cellular connection and an internet connection, which increases the cost of messaging, unlike SMSes, which only require an active cellular connection.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
2. Heterogeneous Devices and Carriers<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Due to the heterogeneity of devices and carriers, the deliverability and accessibility of MMS messaging is a significant issue as this can diminish the efficacy of MMS messaging.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
3. Content Production Requiring Considerable Resources<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Businesses will need to commit resources to the production, curation, and organization of diverse content assets due to their incorporation, which can increase the cost and time required to create MMS messaging campaigns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
4. Limited Retrieval and Confidence<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Customers may not retrieve MMS messages due to a lack of awareness or a general lack of trust in light of rising security threats, which can reduce the efficacy and reach of MMS messaging campaigns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Differences Between SMS and MMS<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The major differences between SMS and MMS can be captured through the following points:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Message Content and Format<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"SMS-MMS-Difference\"](\"https:\/\/justcall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/difference-between-sms-and-mms.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOne of the first and most obvious differences between SMS and MMS is the ability to incorporate rich media elements, such as the following within the message:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- Photos<\/li>\r\n
- Videos<\/li>\r\n
- Audio clips<\/li>\r\n
- GIFs, etc.,<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
How does this difference play out practically? To illustrate this, let\u2019s consider a real-world example:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Businesses can use these elements to humanize their brand and establish a personal and emotional repertoire with the customer base.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
However, you also need to practice discretion while unlocking the power and potential of MMS messaging. A banking institution sending an OTP message with a GIF may seem cute to your team but looks extremely suspicious to a receiver.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Not to mention, it would rather distract the user from the intent of the message, namely, the OTP.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
So, even though MMS is compatible with a wider range of content formats, making a choice between SMS vs. MMS must be taken as per the demands of the situation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"business-benefits-MMS\"](\"https:\/\/justcall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/mms.gif\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTransmission Mechanism<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Without going too much into the details, let\u2019s understand the difference in how\u00a0SMS vs. MMS\u00a0are sent.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Text messages are transmitted over traditional cellular networks in information packets. These data packets make their way from the sender to the nearest cell tower, which then passes it on to the SMS messaging center.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The SMS messaging center acts as a hub that forwards the message to the nearest cell tower of the recipient, after which the message finally gets delivered to the receiver\u2019s device.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
With MMS, the story is somewhat similar, except with a few modifications to accommodate rich media. Once an MMS message is sent, it gets submitted to the Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The MMSC then sends an SMS notification to the Short Message Service Center (SMSC), which notifies the receiver that they have received an MMS. When the receiver agrees to receive the MMS message, the terminal device retrieves the message from the MMSC using an active internet connection and displays it to the receiver. As such, the sending and receiving of MMS require two service centers, namely, the MMSC and SMSC, and two networks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Deliverability<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Given the simplicity of SMS messaging, it is a lot more reliable and accessible to all. Pretty much every VoIP system<\/a><\/strong> and cellular network carrier supports texting, which has a direct impact on the delivery rate. As such, even a basic analog phone can receive an SMS without any issue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
With MMS, deliverability becomes an issue starting with device compatibility.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
First, the receiving device should have MMS messages enabled as well as connectivity to the internet to accept incoming messages.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Secondly, the device should be compatible with the type of incoming content; else, the entire message would be displayed as a scrambled text in Unicode. Sure, smartphone penetration has touched all-time highs, and even though most Android devices and iPhones meet the minimum criteria to receive MMS, not all carriers will support MMS delivery.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
As a result, even some cutting-edge VoIP service providers are unable to send MMS messages – and if that is the case with sending, one can only imagine the issues with\u00a0receiving<\/em>\u00a0MMS messages.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Owing to such deliverability issues, SMS messages are often used as a fall-back mechanism when MMS delivery faces issues. In such cases, the message is stripped of its rich media files and only text content passes through.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Message Size and Length<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"sms-mms-characters\"](\"https:\/\/justcall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sms-mms-characters.webp\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nA single segment of an SMS message is about 160 characters. In other words, every character is precious. As such, your team will have to put in ample thought while crafting, editing, and refining the message. But at the same time, it allows you to cut through the BS and get straight to the point.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Do note that the allowable limit could be smaller if you were to use emojis or special characters. Some carriers that do not support emojis could cost you 90 valuable characters – leaving you with just 70 to work with. Such limitations would be greatly compounded if you were to use scripts like Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, etc. as they would count as special characters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
That\u2019s not to say that you would\u00a0have<\/em>\u00a0to send an SMS in less than 160 characters. However, do note that your entire message would be divided into segments and the receiver may get the entire chain in an absolutely random order – which can defeat the purpose.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"sms-segments\"](\"https:\/\/justcall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sms-segments.png\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAgainst this background, the 1600 characters offered by MMS would offer you more freedom to express yourself. At the same time, you can also add a lot of material to the rich media content to elaborate further on the message. As such, you get a lot more flexibility with MMS.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Costs<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
SMS messages are inexpensive and they get the job done, which inflates the resulting return on investment (ROI). MMS, on the other hand, requires higher bandwidth to send heavier files, which can get pricey. However, since it manages to get a better response, MMS messages also maintain a healthy ROI. So, even if there are costs associated with sending SMS and MMS<\/a><\/strong> messages and some of them can be disproportionate, the performance of such campaigns very well justifies them in either case.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The good news is that carriers and VoIP service providers have bulk or unlimited SMS and MMS<\/a><\/strong> plans, which can significantly reduce the cost of such communications – sometimes even making it free!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
SMS vs. MMS: A Bit-by-Bit Comparison<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Now that we have gone into the details of\u00a0SMS vs. MMS<\/strong>, let\u2019s quickly round up the findings in an easy-to-read table:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
- The global number of smartphone users is expected to touch\u00a06.8 billion<\/a>\u00a0by 2023. Such an expansion will also increase the user base that can receive MMS messages.<\/li>\r\n
![\"JustCall-SMS-MMS-feature\"](\"https:\/\/wp-public-fs.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com\/tasks\/1627d1a8f37fae069ef7a3f56488b5461754bb19db362a\/images\/image-2_%282%29-62a979f63b264.png\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/esputnik.com\/photos\/shares\/Blog\/images\/smsen\/image8.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"feedback-sms-template\"](\"https:\/\/justcall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Feedback-SMS-template.webp\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"mms-broadcast-coupon\"](\"https:\/\/justcall.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MMS-broadcast-coupon.webp\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n