MMS Wireless Confusion Highlighted

3G LAB published the results of independent usability tests which showed that consumer test subjects were unsure what the term MMS meant and were so confused by the menu systems of MMS-enabled phones that they were unwilling to send photos via MMS to other phones.

In 3G LAB's tests, which took place in the company's usability testing suite in Cambridge, UK, members of the public were asked to take and send pictures using a variety of MMS-enabled mobile phones. Whilst testers found taking a photo with either phone relatively easy, sending the image to another phone was a much more difficult task, because menu systems on the phones did not tally with the consumers' expectations.

For example: phone menus described the picture messaging capability as either MMS or Multimedia, whilst UK operators market their offerings as picture messaging, media messaging, or photo messaging - none of which appear in the menu system of either phone.

When asked to send a photo, one tester commented: "I don't know what MMS means. I've never heard of it before." Another test subject replied: "Multimedia, I haven't got a clue. Bluetooth, I haven't got a clue. Infra-red, I'd imagine that's either someone with a similar phone that you can send it to, or maybe even a computer."

"Clearly, picture messaging is set to be a major part of operators' revenue streams for the next few years," said Steve Ives, CEO 3G LAB. "But our usability tests show that consumers are baffled by the terminology and design of today's MMS-enabled handsets. These results suggest that handset manufacturers and operators need to work hard to make MMS easier to use if they are to start building decent revenues."

A report detailing the findings of the usability tests is available on request.

Opinions expressed in the report are those of the test subjects and do not in any way reflect the opinions of 3G LAB.

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