Well now, lets take a look back at WWDC ’09.
I can quote Apple stating that the iPhone 2G will not be receiving MMS capabilities because of a “hardware limitation”.
DO NOT TRY THIS ON AN IPHONE 3G, IT WILL BRICK YOUR IPHONE
You have been warned.
However, there is a new package on Cydia that is going to help us get there.
Something to note about this hack:
You do not need SwirlyMMS! This works though the Messages.app (Text/SMS App)
All previous hacks used SwirlyMMS, a paid jailbroken app that lets you send messages through its own app, but not the official Apple Messages.app.
And some of the things you’re going to need to get this working:
And for AT&T users you’ll ALSO need:
Once you’ve taken care of that, lets start with the step-by-step.
1. Go to Cydia, and download “ActivateMMS2G”
2. Install it, and reboot your iPhone. If you’re on T-Mobile, you’ll need to find your correct MMS settings… So grab them from here. Do this ON YOUR IPHONE, as it will auto-install the configuration.
3. For AT&T iPhones, you’re going to need to do a lot more work… Start by downloading This customized iPhone AT&T US carrier file. Save it to your desktop somewhere.
4. You need to configure iTunes to let you use this file with your phone, so follow the directions for your operating system.
MAC OS X:
Close iTunes.
Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
Run the command:defaults write com.apple.iTunes carrier-testing -bool TRUEWindows 32 Bit:
Close iTunes.
Go to Start then Run and type CMD.
Run this command:“C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe” /setPrefInt carrier-testing 1Windows 64 Bit:
Close iTunes.
Go to Start then Run and type CMD.
Run this command:“C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunes.exe” /setPrefInt carrier-testing 1
5. After that, plug in your iPhone to your computer, launch iTunes back up, and option click (Mac) or shift click (Windows) the “Check for Updates” button. Change the type to be the carrier file, and select the AT&T US file from your desktop.
6. Take your iPhone SIM card out, and put it in your other AT&T phone…
7. Make some calls… I called AT&T Wireless Customer Support at 1-800-331-0500.
8. Check your AT&T Account Management online, to see if your number has changed from being an iPhone to whatever phone your using. If not make some more calls and check again. Once you’ve noticed it’s changed, go on to the next step.
9. This is why you need to have a pre-existing messaging plan, because when you’re SIM is in the new phone, it allows MMS’s to go through, because it’s not an iPhone. Switching back to the iPhone doens’t (yet) seem to block MMS’s again. If you do not already have a messaging plan, you MAY be able to add one to your account online, but I cannot confirm this works.
10. Go to this link on your iPhone, and find the US > AT&T carrier configuration, and install that.
11. Reboot your phone.
9. Send a test MMS to yourself. Please NOTE: The sending of MMS files takes some time… be patient with it, the sending bar will get NEARLY full, and then stop… wait it out, check it in a minute or two to see if it went through. If you see a red ! mark, then the message failed to send… something along the way wasn’t done properly, check the MMS settings (shown below), and try again, if it’s still not working then start over with the custom carrier files.
And here are the correct AT&T settings.
This is under Settings.app > General > Network > Cellular Data Network
(If this section is missing you did not properly apply the patch through iTunes, go back and try again.)
Some sites have reported the need for a username (wap@cingulargprs.com) and a password (CINGULAR1) but I have had success without authentication. Please let me know your findings.
Please also note, it also takes some time to RECEIVE an MMS, your one you test-sent to yourself should send, and you might not receive it for 30 seconds after that. Be patient.
This has been working for me for two days now. So far AT&T has not disabled MMS for my number, if they do I’ll be sure to update this post.
Please comment with your feedback and findings. I’ll be happy to try to help.
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[...] Continue reading here: Guide: Get MMS on iPhone 2G (AT&T OR T-Mobile OR Any Other) | Tech … [...]
Thanks for the tutorial!
However, I cannot seem to get past the step where AT&T recognizes my iPhone as another phone. I put my iPhone sim card into my sony ericsson and made about 10 calls but it still shows up as an iPhone. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. Please help asap. Thanks.
shaq1nj@aol.com
[Reply]
Corey Reply:
June 29th, 2009 at 8:57 PM
@ShaQ1nJ,
Maybe try calling your voicemail, have a friend leave you a VM, and check it, something to that effect, also try sending a text/MMS.
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Does this hack still work? I have AT&T and am not sure if I should do this. Has AT&T blocked it?
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Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:45 AM
@Kyle,
This should still be working just fine.
I just did it 3-4 days ago.
If not it wont hurt anything. it just… wouldn’t work.
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Can someone who ha done these steps recently and confirm it works?thanks
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Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
July 14th, 2009 at 1:39 PM
@Dion,
This guide is only 15 days old, so it should still work.
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Dion Reply:
July 14th, 2009 at 5:18 PM
@Corey DeGrandchamp,
Thanks. I was working on this for a while, wasn’t working. so i’m gunna try this tutorial.
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Hey Corey,
I wasn’t able to access the help.benm link via my iphone. Is there any other way to get those settings?
Thanks!
[Reply]
Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
July 15th, 2009 at 7:06 AM
@Harsh,
It works for me, just be sure you type this exactly:
http://help.benm.at/tethering.php
make sure there’s no www. in there, and make sure you have the benm.at part and .php at the end.
[Reply]
Anonymous Reply:
July 16th, 2009 at 8:40 AM
@Corey DeGrandchamp,
Ok. I got it to work. My cellular data network settings are the same, but I keep getting the message send failure exclamation point. I did exactly step by step what you wrote. Please advice. Thank you.
[Reply]
Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
July 16th, 2009 at 8:44 AM
@,
I ran into that problem at first too. I just rebooted my device a few times, and reapplied the mobileconfig’s from the benm site.
Rebooted a few more times, and a few more tests later they started to succesfully send AND receive!
Dan Reply:
July 17th, 2009 at 4:25 PM
@Corey DeGrandchamp,
Yeah, I tried that too. So far no dice, I’ve redone it around 3 or 4 times now and still not luck. Stuck with the ! icon.
Harsh Reply:
July 16th, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Also, I went back to the ATT website and it already switched phones from the other ATT phone to my iPhone. Is it supposed to just stick with the other ATT phone?
Thanks again.
Thank you SOOO much!! I have been trying to get my mms set up for weeks and this process is the only one that worked. I was even contemplating upgrading iPhones because I was so frustrated. Thanks again.
[Reply]
Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
July 31st, 2009 at 1:29 PM
@Deba,
not a problem at all, glad it helped somebody get it working
[Reply]
Hi corey, I’m using an unlocked 2G, ive installed the “ActivateMMS2G” On my iphone using cydia, then i restarted, and went to the website and got my MMS settings, i can’t figure out how to send a message to my self though, to see if it works? Sorry for the dumb question, hope you can help
Thanks
[Reply]
Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
August 11th, 2009 at 7:03 AM
@Jesse,
restart the phone, you should see the photo icon in the messages.app now.
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I mean, how to send one from my iPhone, This is what my MMS settings currently read (it looks like im missing somethings)
APN: wap.voicestream.com
Everything else is blank…. Is this correct for T-mobile?
Can somebody provide there working settings?
Thank you
[Reply]
Oh, it looks like i missed a step, i didn’t stick my t-mobile sim in another phone, and make a few calls, is this why im having trouble?
sorry for all the comments.
[Reply]
Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
August 11th, 2009 at 7:05 AM
@Jesse,
no, you don’t have to do that with t-mobile at all.
perhaps google search for correct t-mobile iphone mms settings and enter them manually in the network preferences on the phone.
[Reply]
This is greate dude! It totally works for me.. ThANKS!
[Reply]
Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
August 11th, 2009 at 7:05 AM
@,
no problem man, thanks for dropping by and using this guide!
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Yo, im trying to help my friend with this, but it wont let her send messages out. but she can receive them. she says the bar is almost done sending, but it stops her and she gets a red exclamation mark. she’s with t-mobile too btw.
[Reply]
Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
August 18th, 2009 at 7:52 AM
@Ramsey Appiagyei,
sounds like she’s not getting authenticated by the t-mobile servers.
try calling t-mobile and asking them for their MMS settings, they should have no problem giving them to you, you just might need a username/password to be able to send.
[Reply]
I’ve been using so many different guides ALL day and this one finally worked for me.
I have:
jailbreaked iPhone 2G with 3.0
a normal data plan (I got it when I had a Samsung Eternity originally)
and AT&T is my carrier.
I’ll be sure to update if it keeps working. :]
[Reply]
Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
September 5th, 2009 at 6:00 PM
@,
Awesome, glad to see it finally working for another person with AT&T, most people are telling me it wasn’t, but persistence is what counts, as I had to keep trying myself as well, an then I had to format, re-jailbreak and try again to write the guide.
Let me know how it goes, I don’t have my 2G anymore, I upgraded to a 3GS, but theoretically it should still be working to this day.
[Reply]
dude Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 7:48 PM
@Corey DeGrandchamp, It still is working today. Great job!
2G, AT&T, had to get a new SIM to have MMS working on that one line. Today is Dec 23, 2009.
[Reply]
Im haveing trouble with steps 4&5. Im not sure if i have the comand prompt correct. And when i click on shift and find updates and click o att_us. what do i open from there? If some one could let me know. BIGBIRD31369@HOTMAIL.COM
[Reply]
[...] please note, if you want to do this on an an original iPhone (2G), please see my previous post on that [...]
Excellent. Thank you. Everything works perfect on my AT&T 2g iphone.
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i have iphone 2g on 3.1 on itunes 9 will it work still?
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Have iPhone 2G + 3.0.1 + iTunes 9 and this works just fine. Thanks.
[Reply]
all my settings are correct yet i still get hung at sending and always fails
[Reply]
dude Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 7:45 PM
@cdc, try putting that SIM in a working non-iPhone phone. If it fails sending MMS in that phone, then maybe your SIM is the problem. Call your Wireless provider and ask if there are any data block on that line before getting a new SIM card.
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IT WORKED. I have been trying to get this enabled for two weeks. Numerous calls to AT&T and bitching at them, to no avail. And here i stumble across your site and thank you very much!!!
[Reply]
Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
November 4th, 2009 at 8:09 PM
@Josh,
Awesome man, glad to see you got it working!
[Reply]
Damn, the MMS stopped working. I can’t send anymore. It lasted for about two weeks.
[Reply]
Hey,
I’ve been struggling with this problem for some time now and I was wondering if you could help me out?
I’m trying to get around signing up for a data plan. I have a 2g iphone unlocked and jailbroken.
However I can’t get the mms working.
i bought swirlymms off of cydia (stupidly) and that didnt work
I’ve downloaded something to make the APN settings available, but I still cant get anything to work.
And I can’t find Activatemms2g.
And the link for the custom ATT thing seems to be broken.
So im kinda stuck.
But I guess my main question is, is it possible to send and recieve mms without a data plan?
and if so what steps should I take now?
And i have AT&T
thanks
[Reply]
dude Reply:
December 23rd, 2009 at 4:59 PM
@Richard Arnett, I was in the same situation. Unfortunately you can’t send MMS without having that E icon. At that point you’re screwed because it means the phone has internet access (and if you don’t have a data plan you’re paying/kb).
On a regular day, the iPhone will try to connect to both ax.init.itunes.apple.com and phobos.apple.com about 10 times/minute if the phone is being used (not in standby mode). Which means you’ll be incurring some heavy fees.
You can restrict Safari and other stuff but it won’t help because checking for app updates happens all the time (and whatever else those two hosts do).
Also, most apps are internet-enabled and they don’t let you know or ask for permission. You might need to purchase Yiler’s Firewall but it only works when an APP is running. When the phone is idle it will still check for updates.
Anywho, I was going to keep it short but oh well. Let me know if you need additional help.
Also, my SIM had a problem and even though no data blocks were on that SIM it would still not send/receive MMS no matter which phone I used (iphone or non). So that might be something to consider. I got a new sim card at an AT&T store and MMS was working again.
[Reply]
Teddy Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:05 AM
@dude, hey man i am stuck my apn settings wo t stick even when I put both the apn the same but I can recurve but not send
[Reply]
Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:09 AM
@Teddy,
Try using the unofficial AT&T pre-made carrier file, it should help you out. I had to apply it and restart my phone a few times to get it to work.
Teddy Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:35 AM
@Corey DeGrandchamp, Well the problem might be that iam running 3.1.2
Teddy Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:35 AM
@Teddy, will it work for 3.1.2?
Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:37 AM
@Teddy, I’m not sure if it works for 3.1.2 or not. Unfortunately I sold my iPhone 2G shortly after this, and bought a 3GS. I wish I could be of some more help.
But if you’re receiving messages, you’re on the right track!
Ya it sucks cause I try to manually input the apn the same as the web apn but it still refuses to save them haha
[Reply]
Corey DeGrandchamp Reply:
March 16th, 2010 at 11:53 AM
@Teddy, yeah, try going to http://www.benm.at/HELP on your phone a few times, and installing the AT&T US file, reboot and repeat until it sticks maybe?
[Reply]
Ok will do post back and let u know how it goes
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I just remembered this. I downloaded the file from megaupload but I couldn’t get the cmd line under windows x64 to work. So I searched the internet and came across this ipcc file. You can access it directly from your iphone and it will open Cydia. I installed it and then moved my sim card to another phone. Sorry, I just remembered the process. I messed with the itunes thing forever!
http://help.benm.at/mi.select.php?carrier=101
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good post, added you to my RSS reader. Greetings from DC
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Hello all! I like this forum, i organize tons inviting people on this forum.!!!
Great Community, respect all!
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