MM7

What is MM7?? 


Simply put, MM7 is a protocol used in MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) in Mobile technology. A more specific definition should define it as a protocol defined by 3GPP, (3GPP or 3rd Generation Partnership Project is a collaboration between groups of telecommunications associations, to make a globally applicable third-generation (3G) mobile phone system specification within the scope of the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 project of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ) which acts as the interface between MMSC and a value-added service provider (VASP).


An overview of the MMS architecture would provide a more clear picture. The following diagram shows a number of interfaces between components found in the mobile network, including MM7.

MM7 protocol is based on the concept of Web Services. Therefore, it uses SOAP and HTTP for communication. The multimedia messages are sent to the MMS Relay/Server using the HTTP POST method. The body of the post contains XML data about the delivery and a  MIME-multipart attachment  containing the multimedia message.

The MM7 protocol consists of  2 parts, namely abstract request and response messages. 

E.g.:- 

1.  VASP wants to send an MMS message, 
2.  it sends an MM7_submit.REQ-message to the MMS Relay/Server
3.  MMS Relay/Server responds with an MM7_submit.RES-message
4.  Each message has the mandatory fields to link the request with the response and indicating the MM7 specification.

By using the MM7 interface, third party content providers can send/receive MMS messages between their applications and MMS-enabled mobile phones.

VASP can perform the following functions with MM7 protocol :

• Send/Receive MMS messages
• Receive delivery and read reports
• Replace/Cancel an earlier MMS message submission (Optional)

As distinct from the earlier interfaces between VASP applications and MMS Relay/Server, which were dependent on the vendor,   MM7 is a common vendor-independent protocol. Hence, it is capable of bringing a lot of value add to the VASP in MMS -based content services. Formerly, the interfaces offered by MMSC vendors were different, causing a variety of interfaces in each Mobile Content application. However, with this new protocol, while operating in an environment with multiple operators (with multi-vendor MMSCs), the VASP will only have to develop the MM7 interface into the VASP application only once. Thus, by using the MM7 interface, the content provider will save both time and effort, leading to a shorter time-to-market with new services, 


Consequently, some more advantages of the MM7 interface include  reusability of the application interfaces which improves the possibilities for e.g. offering global Mobile content services. In addition, usage of Web Services withs its virtues of time and cost savings provide a great possibility for the content providers to share more interesting and powerful content to the users with less effort in time, leading to higher ARPU(Average Revenue Per User)  for all participants of the channel.