I’m a big fan of the Voice Over iP service Line2. The company’s iOS app is clean, fast and lets you make clear calls, especially when you are in a high-speed WiFi network. (They also offer an Android app and I’m hoping to see a version for Windows Phone soon but I have not heard anything about that… Yet.) I use the app all the time and, now that Elana has gone all Apple I’m encouraging her to do the same. Why? Simple! If we use Line2 enough we will be able to drop down to a lower bucket of minutes on out AT&T wireless account and THAT saves money.
There was, however, one thing Line2 was missing that the major carriers still offered- MMS. Now I’m not a huge MMS-user but I do see the reasons for it and if Line2 truly wants to play on the same level as AT&T, Verizon and the other big boys MMS is something they need to offer. And now they do! With the latest update to The Line2 iOS app MMS is enabled. Here’s what they have to say about it.
The world’s first and only app that allows you to place calls over WiFi, 3G Data, and Cellular voice networks using the same number has now added MMS picture texting to its growing list of carrier-grade features. Line2 enables customers to add a second phone line to their iPhone or Android phone, or turn an iPad into a desktop phone.
One might wonder why it has taken this long for Line2 to add MMS to their app. It comes as no surprise that Line2’s technology was not the issue but rather
Despite being ready to launch since the Fall of 2011, the carriers (such as Verizon) have been blocking MMS interconnect for OTT (“Over the Top”) services like Line2. Working through the CTIA, they are trying to force additional restrictions that could make it impossible for companies like Line2, Google Voice, Pinger, Gogii and others to compete effectively.
In the mean time, Line2 has developed a work-around that is now available in the app store for iOS devices, and will soon be available on Android. Customers can send photos to people’s cell phones via a link that can be accessed by the receiver without needing to enter a special code. The service still cannot receive pictures from outside the Line2 network because the carriers are not delivering pictures sent to Line2 customers. So for true MMS, both sender and receiver need the Line2 app.
It is worth noting Line2 also offers true “carrier-grade SMS” (regular texting), call waiting, caller ID support, call forwarding, conferencing, and additional business features that are important to professionals and small companies.
Version 8.0, the version that supports all these features is available now. As I noted at the beginning of this post, I like and use Line2 enough that I bought a year’s subscription to it and am happy I did. You can learn more here on the company website.