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Are you ready to text your awesome photos? OK!



TABLE OF CONTENTS


General:

There are two different ways to text your photos - either by using the Twilio service or by Email via carrier method.

For both methods, you apply the settings to all presets via Globals tab > MMS.



Twilio Method:

1. Purchase a Twilio virtual number via https://www.twilio.com (make sure you're purchasing a number with the MMS option enabled).


2. In the Features tab > MMS feature > select "MMS Method" - Twilio.



Text Message: A short text that will accompany the photo.



3. In the Globals tab > MMS > insert the data provided by Twilio:


From Number: Enter the full phone number you’ve purchased from Twilio (including + and international calling code).


Country prefix: Set your international calling code.


Account SID: Enter your Twilio Account SID.


Auth Token: Enter your Twilio Authentication token.

SMS Service PHP: Enter the URL of your PHP server, if you don't have one you can use FotoMaster’s (provided in the preset pack).


Email Service PHP: Enter the URL of your PHP server, if you don't have one you can use FotoMaster’s (provided in the preset pack). 



4. In your Workflow, add an MMS Feature State (make sure to place it after the "Save Final Photo" Feature state):


Email via Carrier Method: 

Allows you to send MMS via Email integration (by supporting carriers).**


Sharing photos via MMS using carrier selection is a free alternative to using a paid Twilio account. Note the following information about the free carrier-based option to make a suitable and well-founded choice before an event.


Carrier selection typically results in 3% undelivered messages due to participants choosing the wrong carrier. Speed of message delivery is not guaranteed to be instant, typically resulting in 6% of messages that have been delayed for a few minutes or up to 48 hours. The size limit for attachment files varies between carriers, typically resulting in 2% undelivered messages due to file size. And most importantly, with it being a free service offered by carriers, its general availability is not guaranteed and can result in undelivered messages when a service of a major carrier is not working properly.


Another cost-effective option you can consider is to start an event with the free carrier-based option active and a paid Twilio account standing by as a backup. You can then make sure participants receive their photos and instantly switch to the paid option with the first sign of undelivered MMS.


In addition to these existing options for sharing photos via MMS, we are currently working on new sharing features which we are excited to share with you soon.*


* The above data is based on Foto Master's internal statistics and may very.


1. In the Features tab > MMS feature > select "MMS Method" - Email via Carrier:


2. In your Workflow, add an MMS Feature State (make sure to place it after the "Save Final Photo" Feature state):


3. Once the MMS feature screen is presented, select the carrier from the drop down menu and type your phone number.

[Can't see the video? Click here to watch on YouTube]


**Supported carriers: Alltel, AT&T, Boost Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Metro PCS, Project Fi, Sprint, T-Mobile, Ting, Tracefone, U.S. Cellular, Verizon, Virgin Mobile, XFinity Mobile.


**If “Auto Collect Phone numbers” is selected, the log’s details will appear in the “email.csv” file and not in “mms.csv”. The queue will also appear in the Email feature section in the Features tab.


Settings:

Vertical Position: Choose the displayed Vertical position of the MMS Feature from the drop-down menu (you can choose between top, middle, and bottom).


Enable Number Validation: Check this box to prevent users from sending their files to the wrong number by making sure they entered the right amount of figures.


Send Photos, GIF from Photos, Burst GIF, Videos, Video from Photos (if saved): Select the types of digital media you want to include in the MMS sent through the software.


Delete Final Photo when MMS is sent: If this option is selected, final photos will be deleted once the text is sent.


Enable Sending Multiple MMS: Check this box to allow the user to send the text to multiple phone numbers (see instructions below).


Bypass State on Disclaimer Disagree or Skip: If the user disagrees with the disclaimer or press “skip”, the next state in the workflow will be skipped.


Show Disclaimer: The disclaimer, if selected, will appear before sending the MMS.


Show Privacy Checkbox: If selected, a privacy checkbox will be added to the Disclaimer.


Collect Phone Numbers: This option allows you to collect the users’ phone numbers while using the software during your event. You can choose between the “Auto Collect Phone Numbers” option, the “Collect Phone Numbers if Allowed by User” option, and the “Do not collect Phone Numbers” option. If you select “Collect Phone Numbers if Allowed by Use”, another checkbox will be added to the disclaimer


If the collecting phone numbers option is enabled, an “MMS.csv” files will be created under the event folder listing all the phone numbers entered in the system, and the number of their corresponding media file. If you don't have an internet connection during the event, the software will automatically send the emails once connected to the internet again.


mms5.JPG


Sending MMS\SMS to multiple numbers:

Available in V8 and up


1. Check the "Enable Sending Multiple MMS" box:


2. Start the preset

3. In the MMS feature screen, type in the first number you'd like to send the MMS\SMS to, and then hit "Add Number". The first MMS will be sent, and the next one will be sent after adding another number and hitting the "Add Number" or "Send" button.


MMS Sharing - this is supported only in the USA and Canada via Twilio, If you are outside of the US/Canada, Twilio supports SMS Sharing which means that the photo will arrive as a link and the photo will be saved on your server, we provide a script which you can put on your server and offer either SMS or MMS via the software + your server. For more info contact our support. It's important to read the disclaimer about data protection and to make sure that you offer a disclaimer to your customers if you are going to host their photos on your servers. 

If you need the Test PHP Server URLs - please contact our support team.


Troubleshooting:

If this is the first time you're using the MMS feature, please check the How To Use The MMS Feature tutorial.

If your texts are not being sent:

  • Check if there is a communication issue on Twilio's end at https://status.twilio.com/ 
  • Make sure that you have the details from your Twilio account are saved to your preset under the Features tab -> MMS feature.
  • Make sure that the MMS feature state is after Auto Save Photo feature state, and not before.
  • Make sure you’re not using a Twilio trial account and that the account you purchased supports MMS sending.
  • Make sure that you have a stable internet connection. If not, the software will leave the MMS pending and will send them once you get a good internet connection.
  • Make sure your file size is not more than 5MB (limited by Twilio).
  • Re-Copy and paste all of your Twilio account details - Number, SID and Auth Token.
  • Make sure to add “+prefix” and the full number.

Here is an example of entering the data incorrectly:

Here is an example of entering the data correctly:

Note: with US numbers, the "From Number" can be without the prefix. If the MMS is not being sent, try to remove it.

  • Make sure that you have the SMS service PHP address in the designated window. You can copy the PHP provided to you by Foto Master (you can find the URL address in any of Foto Master presets provided in the preset pack, and copy+paste it to your preset, or you can use your own server URL).
  • Make sure you have an "Auto Save Photo " state in your workflow before the "MMS" Feature.
  • Try to create a new event folder and start your preset.

Email Via Carrier additional Troubleshooting:

  • If you have sent an MMS message to one carrier and it was not received, try texting a different carrier. It is possible that certain carriers have different file receiving limits (if using Twilio, it will compress the file to the required file size the carrier can receive. With the Email Via Carrier method, the files will be sent as-is, without any external involvement).
  • In order to test the above, try to send a text without a photo\video\gif. You can simply remove the DSLR Photo feature state from your workflow, and load a small asset, like a signature or a logo file.
  • To see if the carrier receives MMS via Email, you can use your email app and compose a new email. For example, if our carrier is Verizon, we will email: 2033499983@vmpix.com. Here is the list of the carriers:
    • Alltel: @mms.alltelwireless.com 

      AT&T: @mms.att.net 

      Boost Mobile: @myboostmobile.com 

      Cricket Wireless: @mms.cricketwireless.net 

      Metro PCS: @mymetropcs.com 

      Project Fi: @msg.fi.google.com 

      Sprint: @pm.sprint.com 

      T-Mobile: @tmomail.net 

      Ting: @message.ting.com 

      Tracfone: @mmst5.tracfone.com 

      U.S. Cellular: @mms.uscc.net 

      Verizon: @vzwpix.com 

      Virgin Mobile: @vmpix.com 

      XFinity Mobile: @mypixmessages.com 

  • If sending an MMS via your email app was unsuccessful, it is possible that the specific carrier's service is down. Foto Master's server will re-try to send the emails within 48 hours. If sending the messages is urgent, you can manually resend the messages (see link below).

If you managed to get the text via your email but not with the MMS feature, please email support@fotomasterltd.com to further check on the issue.


Resending MMS: If needed, you can follow this document to re-send your MMS.