MMS messages from overseas not being received

[John46]

A friend is trying to send photos using MMS from an iPhone.

They are generating an error message and are not appearing on my phone (HTC running Android 7.x.x)

How do I change my plan (I'm currently on the 3month $150 plan with no add-ons) or phone settings to get these messages? 

There is some urgency in getting a solution to my problem.

Thanks in advance.

[John46]

This may, in fact, be the answer.  My friend has an iPhone while I am on an Android device.

[John46]

We did use a workaround but it would have been so much easier to share photos in text exchange.

[John46]

My friend will be back tomorrow so we can compare phones and settings at that time.  Unfortunately, we've both got commitments so I don't know when we'll actually be able to get together to check.  But it's a good suggestion and I will follow up.

[Luddite]

@John46 You might also ask your friend to confirm their iPhone settings. Should be

Settings >> Messages >> iMessage ON, Send as SMS ON, MMS ON >> Send & Receive should show their phone number as well a their iCloud account addresss.

Of course there is always email.

Finally, if you can receive MMS photos from anyone else it is likely an issue on your friend's phone/carrier.

[John46]

For the others in this thread:

Marie sent me a detailed reply describing steps to fix the problem. One of the steps was to visit this page and create a new Access Point Name (APN)

https://apn-canada.gishan.net/settings/1844_15_public_mobile_apn_settings_for_htc_u11.php

I tried that but still had no luck.  Others have suggested that I needed to send a picture first.  Tried that, no luck.

Switched back to the original APN and tried again.

We did use an internet workaround to exchange pictures but it was so clumsy that I don't really want to try that again.

When my friend gets back to Canada, we'll try again and see if the issue is "out of the Canada/US area" or if it's more general.  I'll check back to see if further suggestions appear.

Thanks, everyone.  We tried!

John

[will13am]

The MMS standard is a bit of a wild wild west.  I don't think all carriers run compatible editions.  I can message a friend in the UK.  Traffic in the other direction does not work.  21st century messaging platforms like hangouts, WhatsApp work perfectly.  

[mimmo]

Could they not send you the pic via email or WhatsApp (I think everyone in Europe use WhatsApp) or even send you a link to Dropbox iCloud etc.

[ShawnC13]

Are the pictures going out to multiple users from the sender?  I have had an issue with my parents sending out messages to me and my sister.  She and my parents are iSheep and I am not (any more)  They get everything going back and forth and I don't but they are getting the messgaes via imessage.  Not sure if that could be an issue here or why I miss messages from them as well.

[MarieHelene_L]

Just replied to your private message @John46! Please take a look at your inbox 🙂

Everything in OP's account seems normal so we're currently testing a few things out - but if anyone else has any tips or ideas, feel free to share with us! 

Marie