Telekom and 1&1 to Discontinue MMS Service

Deutsche Telekom and 1&1 have announced that they will discontinue the sending of multimedia messages (MMS) on June 30, 2026. This decision marks the end of a technology that has been used since the early 2000s to send image files, before messaging apps like WhatsApp became popular. In 2023, Vodafone had already discontinued its MMS service. Thus, June 30, 2026, will be the final deadline for the remaining major providers in Germany that still support MMS.

O2 has also confirmed that its MMS service will remain available until this date, but plans to communicate the exact details of the shutdown in due time. The use of MMS has significantly declined in recent years, as most providers charged high fees for sending. Originally, sending an MMS cost between 19 cents and 39 cents, which deterred many users from utilizing this service. The introduction of free alternatives through messaging apps has further diminished the appeal of MMS.

With the discontinuation of MMS, users will no longer be able to send images or other media through this service. Instead, an error message will be displayed when attempting to send an MMS. However, some users may still be able to send MMS to recipients whose providers have already discontinued the service. The decision to abolish MMS reflects the shift in the communication landscape. The use of SMS and MMS has sharply declined, while modern messaging standards like RCS (Rich Communication Services) are gaining importance.

RCS allows users to send texts, images, videos, and documents without additional fees, as it uses mobile data that is included in most mobile contracts. RCS also offers enhanced features such as video calls and formatted texts that are not available with MMS. Users can send RCS messages through apps like Google Messages on Android devices or iMessage on iPhones. This development indicates that communication is increasingly shifting to data-based services. The discontinuation of MMS could also impact user habits.

Many people have already adapted to using messaging apps that offer a variety of features that go beyond the capabilities of MMS. Providers are recommending their customers switch to these modern alternatives to continue sharing media content seamlessly. Telekom and 1&1 have described the decision to discontinue the MMS service as part of their strategy to modernize their communication services. The providers emphasize that they want to offer their customers contemporary alternatives that meet the current demands of digital communication. The final shutdown of the MMS service will occur on June 30, 2026, marking the end of an era in mobile communication. Users are encouraged to transition to using RCS and other messaging services to continue sending media content.