The first beta of iPhone 3.0 wasn’t fit for everyday use, but for me, beta 2 is solid enough. And there’s even more reason to go for it: You can use MMS! It’s easy.
This is the method that has worked for us—if you know of any shortcuts or another way to enable MMS, let us know in the comments.
What You’ll Need
• iPhone 3G running OS 3.0
• Another AT&T phone (non-iPhone)
• This carrier file
• SIM ejector tool (or paperclip)
Prep Your iPhone
1. Download the carrier file.
2. Connect your iPhone to your computer. Open iTunes, and option or ctrl click (depending on whether you’re Mac or PC) “check for upgrade” which will open up your file browser. Select the .ipcc file. This is just a carrier file, it doesn’t do anything to your OS or data. Uploading it to your phone will just take a couple of seconds. You’re done.
The Workaround
3. Take your SIM out of your iPhone and pop it into a phone that’s capable of MMS. Make sure it’s registered to your account on AT&T’s site (go into your account manager), replacing the iPhone as your listed phone. You might have to do this manually.
4. Go here, to AT&T’s MediaNet site, and register your phone number. You’ll get an SMS with a 4-digit code to confirm.
MMS, Baby
5. Put your SIM card back in your iPhone. MMS should be working now! It’s kind of pokey (about 30 seconds to send a picture) and it’s dropped a message or two, but we were able to send pictures to people on multiple carriers and receive video from a phone on T-Mobile. It definitely works, and works pretty well. The interface for playing back MMS video (pictured up top) is slick, too.
6. Wonder how you ever did without it.
Word of Caution
We’re rocking an unlimited family messaging plan, so we’re not worried about any charges for blasting out tons of MMS messages. If you’re worried about account weirdness, you might wanna hold off. You could always ask your local AT&T guy to make sure you’re not getting hosed, just tell him you’re a developer (you’ve got iPhone 3.0, after all). Also if you’re squeamish about unofficial OS files, obviously.
Big thanks to Scratic, who showed this method to us. If you know a better way, let us know!
skr3dii
April 8, 2009 at 4:29 PM
You will need to activate your device before you can install iPhone OS 3.0. Become our beta tester and install all the future 3.0 betas : http://tinyurl.com/macgeekblog
Report PermalinkAlek
April 8, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Doesn’t work.. :-\
Report Permalinkhamii
April 10, 2009 at 7:01 AM
Can you do the same with any other carrier. I assume so.
Report Permalinkbrad
April 23, 2009 at 8:44 AM
does not work
Report PermalinkjEY
May 7, 2009 at 10:42 AM
I just try this today I call AT&T and told them i have the 3.0 BETA and they hook me up with mms no hack nothing wack its all works good now the costumer service guy told me that apple never told AT&T about the BETA supporting mms so after so many calls from BETA testers asking to add mms they finely did it like i say this might been out for a while now but i just found this out my self today
NOTE: After he turn on mms on the AT&T side i had to Reset All Settings before i could get it to work im using 3.0 BETA 4
Report Permalinkjustin
June 18, 2009 at 11:18 AM
call optus they fix it in seconds… something to do with deleting your history of its rubbish and it’ll work =]
Report PermalinkAmber
July 25, 2009 at 12:16 PM
i just rang optus, all they had to do was reset the mms profile as my number was already listed with another handset and it as fixed in less than 30 seconds..
the one thing optus seem to be good at!
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