Abstract text

Multimedia message service (MMS) communications directly between mobile stations avoid interactions with a MMS Center (MMSC). In the examples, the originating station sends a short message service (SMS) message notifying the destination mobile station of the availability of the MMS message. This message provides an IP address of the originating station and an identifier for retrieval of the MMS message. In response, the destination mobile station sends back a packet message using the IP address of the originating station and the identifier, to request retrieval of the MMS message. The request message also includes an IP address for packet communication with the destination station. The originating mobile station uses that address for packet communication of the MMS message to the destination mobile station. In the examples, the destination station sends the MMS message to a regional node, for possible transcoding and/or to facilitate billing.