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Frequently asked questions about MMS messaging, supported media types, size limits, and delivery.

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What is MMS?

MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) allows sending images, videos, and audio in addition to text. Availability: US and Canada only

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Is MMS supported by all carriers in the US and Canada?

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Major Carriers

  • AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile (US)
  • Rogers, Bell, Fido, Telus, Wind Canada

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Minor Carriers

365 Wireless, Alaska Communication System (ACS), Alltel Wireless, Bluegrass Cellular, Boost Mobile, and others.

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How much does it cost to send and receive MMS messages?

DirectionCost per Message
Outbound$0.0160
Inbound$0.0080
Volume discounts available—contact Plivo Sales.

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What types of multimedia content does Plivo accept?

CategoryFormats
ImageJPEG, PNG, GIF
VideoMP4, 3GP, MOV
AudioMP3, WAV, AMR
See full list of accepted content types.

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What are the size limitations for sending messages with text and images?

LimitValue
Total message size5 MB
Maximum attachments10 files
Text content1,600 characters (~4.8 KB)
Recommended image size< 600 KB
Note: Plivo does not resize images. Messages exceeding 5 MB fail with error code 120.

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Will Plivo automatically resize my images for MMS messaging?

No. Plivo does not resize images. You must ensure total message size is under 5 MB before sending.

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What MMS content types does Plivo support?

Media URLs must return valid Content-Type and Content-Length headers. URLs without these headers are rejected.

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How do I send MMS via API?

For code examples (API and Powerpack), see the MMS Quickstart Guide. Note: When sending multiple media files, the delivery order is not guaranteed.

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How can I upload media to an MMS message?

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Via Console

  1. Navigate to Messaging > MMS Media Upload
  2. Upload files
  3. Use returned media_id in API requests

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Via API

Use the Media API to upload and manage files.

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Hosted Media

Host media on any cloud storage (S3, GCS, etc.) and provide the URL in media_urls.

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How long does Plivo store MMS media files?

FeatureDetails
Storage durationUp to 1 year
URL typePublicly accessible
ExtensionCase-by-case basis
Media files sent or received are stored in your account with unique URLs.

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How can I retrieve Plivo MMS media files?

Via SDK: Use the list media method Via API: Use the Media API

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How do I receive MMS messages?

  1. Set message_url on your Plivo application
  2. Assign MMS-enabled number to application
  3. Plivo POSTs inbound MMS to your URL

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Inbound Parameters

In addition to standard SMS parameters:
ParameterDescription
Type”mms” for multimedia messages
Media0, Media1, …URLs of attached media files

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What do the different MMS delivery statuses mean?

StatusMeaning
queuedMessage accepted, waiting to send
sentSent to carrier
deliveredConfirmed delivery to recipient
undeliveredFailed to deliver
failedError occurred
View status in Message Detail Records or via delivery callbacks.

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Can I send and receive MMS on my toll-free phone number?

Yes. Toll-free numbers support MMS in the US and Canada. Features:
  • Videos up to 40 seconds
  • Audio files
  • Animated GIFs
  • Images and slideshows
  • Automatic message queuing

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What are the MMS rate limits?

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Account Level

LimitValue
Default MMS MPS0.25
API concurrency100 simultaneous requests

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Per Number

Long code numbers have individual throughput limits.

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What happens to MMS messages sent to unsupported destinations?

MMS to countries or devices without MMS support returns HTTP 400 error.

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What happens to MMS messages sent from unsupported phone numbers?

HTTP 400 error is returned. Use an MMS-enabled number.

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Does Plivo do anything with the metadata associated with digital pictures?

  • Metadata (date, time, location) is usually stripped by sending carrier
  • If carrier preserves metadata, Plivo passes it through
  • No modification of received metadata