I'm still struggling with bi-directional texting. I can SMS from my carrier to Cell C, from US to SA, but SA can't reply. Narrowed it down to perhaps the gateway or "international inter-carrier service provider" that each company uses to send these between carriers. Tried to MMS with a picture to see if that would fare any better and it doesn't work at all. Anyone else have any luck from the US to SA with MMS?
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Does MMS work from US to Cell C in SA?
- Thread starter fdecker
- Start date
10i
Expert Member
Why don't you guys use a service like Mxit?
much cheaper than international sms and you can send photos via Mxit too.
much cheaper than international sms and you can send photos via Mxit too.
yebocan
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Good Old Cell C
Hey,
Best thang is for your friend to change network, had the same problem with CellC, they were always claiming it was a problem with the US network operator. I then did MNP to the Vodacom Network....and everything was fine...sending and receiving....
But Mxit is a good idea, cheap and good for pic transfer.
Hey,
Best thang is for your friend to change network, had the same problem with CellC, they were always claiming it was a problem with the US network operator. I then did MNP to the Vodacom Network....and everything was fine...sending and receiving....
But Mxit is a good idea, cheap and good for pic transfer.
nic777
Expert Member
AFAIK, the last time I looked into, there is no international MMS anywhere in teh world. They are still working on it (not just CellC, everyone)
SMSes however should work fine over international borders.
You may find that the US person is on a different kind of network (CDMA, not GSM like we are on) and that may cause problems.
SMSes however should work fine over international borders.
You may find that the US person is on a different kind of network (CDMA, not GSM like we are on) and that may cause problems.
Pavlov
Active Member
MMS Inter Exchange
Cellular providors typically make use of a third part MMS delivery mechanism to get there MMS's to networks other than those in ZA (ie Vodacom, MTN, Cell C & Cell C (Virgin)).
I am not certain who Cell C uses to interconnect non ZA mobile operators.
Vodacom and MTN do have such interconnect agreements/ providers in place.
Cellular providors typically make use of a third part MMS delivery mechanism to get there MMS's to networks other than those in ZA (ie Vodacom, MTN, Cell C & Cell C (Virgin)).
I am not certain who Cell C uses to interconnect non ZA mobile operators.
Vodacom and MTN do have such interconnect agreements/ providers in place.
More info about the SA to USA SMS/MMS
I've found a little more. First, I'm in the US. My wife's family is all in SA. I'm trying to get a way to SMS. Alltel uses an international gateway provider called Sybase 360. So my SMS goes to them and then it goes to whoever Cell C uses. So the communication issue is likely between those two companies.
Do you pay for an SMS to the US? I thought you have unlimited SMS and that is why you text instead of talk. In the US, voice has been unlimited, so we talk a lot more than text, though it is picking up now, especially among kids. Adding unlimited SMS cost more, so that is why it is sort of reversed here.
But most people here are going with smart phones now, like the Blackberry that I have or the Windows mobile devices or palm. So we have unlimited everything, talk, sms, internet, etc. Of course it would still cost international rates to call SA from the US, but to text them all day long is free. My family just have regular phones, so they have no internet capability in SA. The kids use Mxit, so I'll have to see if that will do.
The last thing I heard from Cell C, though I'm not sure if they were responding to my SMS or MMS query, but they said "we checked your SA family account and they will have to upgrade to GPRS and enable international calling." I have no iead if they didn't read my email or what. I can SMS them and they get it, but from SA, they cannot reply to me. Can anyone comment on this GPRS thing?
BTW, I spent the summer (for us, winter for you) in Capetown and the garden route and Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage. Loved it!
-F
I've found a little more. First, I'm in the US. My wife's family is all in SA. I'm trying to get a way to SMS. Alltel uses an international gateway provider called Sybase 360. So my SMS goes to them and then it goes to whoever Cell C uses. So the communication issue is likely between those two companies.
Do you pay for an SMS to the US? I thought you have unlimited SMS and that is why you text instead of talk. In the US, voice has been unlimited, so we talk a lot more than text, though it is picking up now, especially among kids. Adding unlimited SMS cost more, so that is why it is sort of reversed here.
But most people here are going with smart phones now, like the Blackberry that I have or the Windows mobile devices or palm. So we have unlimited everything, talk, sms, internet, etc. Of course it would still cost international rates to call SA from the US, but to text them all day long is free. My family just have regular phones, so they have no internet capability in SA. The kids use Mxit, so I'll have to see if that will do.
The last thing I heard from Cell C, though I'm not sure if they were responding to my SMS or MMS query, but they said "we checked your SA family account and they will have to upgrade to GPRS and enable international calling." I have no iead if they didn't read my email or what. I can SMS them and they get it, but from SA, they cannot reply to me. Can anyone comment on this GPRS thing?
BTW, I spent the summer (for us, winter for you) in Capetown and the garden route and Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage. Loved it!
-F