Help MMS issue: can't see multiple recipients in MMS group messages.

BaronGrim · Jun 11, 2013

I have a group of friends that have been sending texts back and forth yet when I get them, they only show the sender and not the other recipients. I first tried to find something in the settings that would enable multiple recipients/group message, but I couldn't find any obvious settings that would address the issue. I tried D/Ling a couple of alternative SMS/MMS apps (Handcent SMS and Go SMS pro) but neither fully resolved the issue. When I installed the Handcent app, my stock SMS/MMS app seemed to start working properly in that I could see some multi recipients and who said what, but that didn't last long as the two apps were conflicting. I uninstalled Handcent, hoping that it had made the necessary hidden settings change but it just went back to it's original behavior.

When I get these group MMS messages, the texts I receive are labeled as MMS and have a "play" triangle button that seems to play a blank 3 second audio file. Sometimes, the messages will need to be downloaded before I can view them, even though they're simple texts, no files attached. This could just be a 3G connection issue.

I've looked all through this VM Galaxy S2 4G forum and haven't found this issue addressed previously. I have seen it discussed elsewhere but not with any resolutions.

Am I the only one here having this issue? Is there a simple fix short of rooting/ROMing it?

BaronGrim · Jun 13, 2013

Well, since no one has replied :hmpf: I'll assume that it's just me and no one here is familiar with this problem.

I did try contacting Virgin Mobile with this issue. Here was their response.

We are sorry to hear about this inconvenience.

The first recommended step is take the battery out, wait 15 seconds,
place the battery back in and turn the phone on.

If the issue persists we need to reset your phone with your number and
our network. Please follow the instructions below so we can reprogram
your phone:

1. Turn on your phone.
2. Press the Phone icon on the Home screen.
3. Dial #-#-8-4-7-4-4-6-#.
4. You are now in the Service Program menu. Tap Edit.
5. The MDN field will appear. Enter ten 1's (111 111 1111) and Tap OK.
6. The MSID field will appear. Tap the field next to "Enter MSID". Enter
ten 1's (111 111 1111) and Tap OK.
7. Tap Done.
8. The phone will turn off and then back on by itself.
9. Please execute steps 1-4 again. On the MDN screen, please enter your
cell phone number [REDACTED] and on the MSID screen please enter your
network ID [REDACTED] and hit OK.

You will be able to make and receive phone calls after a couple of
seconds, but remember that you need to wait four hours to send messages,
surf the web and set up your voicemail.

I tried that (I'm sure the battery thing wouldn't work as I've done that before, but I did it again just so they couldn't bitch that I didn't do it). When I dialed #-#-8-4-7-4-4-6-# I got a voice telling me that the number or code that I dialed was incorrect. :banghead:

Anyway, from that suggestion I fear that the problem may be more complicated than I expected. This sounds like the sort of resolution they throw at you when they don't know what to do. "Have you tried turning it off and back on again?" -Roy from The IT Crowd
If that's the case, if it's a system problem and not just a settings or app problem, even rooting/ROMing my phone may not fix it.

If anyone has any ideas or input, please share.

BaronGrim · Jun 17, 2013

UPDATE:

The next suggestion from VM:

We are sorry to know about your text messaging issues.

Please follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. From the home screen, tap the Menu key.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Scroll to and tap System updates.
4. Tap Update Profile.
5. Once the profile update is complete, tap OK.
Note: The device will reset after 30 seconds once the profile update is
complete.
6. The data profile is now updated, please test your cell phone.

If the issue persist, please call us to the phone number listed below
and ask to be connected with our technical department.

That did nothing so I called them today. After a few times on hold the tech support person basically told me that Virgin Mobile does not support multiple recipients on their SMS/MMS service, that if I'm sent a group message I SHOULD only see the sender and not the other recipients.

Can someone here PLEASE CONFIRM that this is indeed the case?

Have any of you seen multiple recipients in your text messages? If so, are you on the stock ROM?

miediev · Jun 18, 2013

There is a thread in the Optimus Elite forum about this subject. A variety of solutions are offered there. Maybe it will help: http://androidforums.com/lg-optimus-elite/591638-cant-open-group-texts-iphone-users.html

BaronGrim · Jun 18, 2013

Thanks, I re-D/Led Handcent and followed the suggestions from that thread. I did notice that in its update notes that they've addressed this (or a similar) issue. But tell me, can YOU see multiple recipients when someone sends you a group text? You have the same phone and service as I do. According to the VM tech support, we SHOULDN'T be able to see group messages.

I'll update after I receive another group text to confirm whether this worked or not.
It might be a few days.

BaronGrim · Jun 18, 2013

Well, I haven't rec'd any texts yet to confirm success nor failure, but I did receive this reply from VM tech support:

Thanks for contacting Virgin Mobile Customer Care.

First let me extend my apologies for any inconvenience and
misunderstanding this has caused. In regard to your concern, we do not
provide the group message feature. Sorry about that.

If you need additional assistance, feel free to let us know how we can
assist further or contact us at 1-888-322-1122 (or *VM from your
handset). You can reach us 4am - 9pm PST 7 days a week. As a reminder,
please include your Virgin Mobile phone number and PIN on all replies.

Thanks,

Clell B.
Virgin Mobile At Your Service
Prepaid Unlimited Cell Phones - No Contract Phones & Plans | Virgin Mobile

So, my question for anyone reading is this: Are you able to receive group texts and see who the other recipients are and are the replies labeled by sender? If so, are you still using the stock ROM or have you loaded another?

Thanks for any responses.

miediev · Jun 18, 2013

I can't help you with any personal experience; I don't have anybody sending me group texts... The closest I can think of is a picture mms I got from my Mom that she sent to everyone in the family. If that counts then yes, it works for me. I'm using PACman rom with the default messaging app from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2050948 With the VVM and MMS fix from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2199489

BaronGrim · Jun 18, 2013

Thanks.

I haven't had any problems with MMSes including images. I have discovered that there is one person in my group that has an iPhone so that may be complicating issues, but that's not the whole problem as a test amongst just VM and Verizon phones also did not show the other recipients. I'll test this again later now that I've reloaded Handcent Messaging.

Nettar · Jun 24, 2013

I discovered a solution. I downloaded the "Verizon Messages" app from the Google Play Store. It worked!

I had a Virgin Mobile Optimus V and upgraded to a Virgin Mobile Optimus Elite. On both phones I could not see group texts from iPhones. I downloaded SMSPro and Handcent - no luck. Emailed Virgin Mobile and they said "sorry you can't do group sms. sorry for the inconvenience." Really? After searching blogs I saw that someone suggested the Verizon app.

Based on my assessment this appears to be a problem with newer (4.1 version) android phones. It looks like Apple uses their own messaging platform (iMessage) for group texts. The iMessage needs to be converted to a sms/mms message when it speaks to a Android phone. The stock messaging app on the phone- which I think is on all android phones: the green smiley face? - on the new android phones this app can not convert iPhone group texts at all. My boyfriend has a Samsung Galaxy Exhibit, uses the stock android message app and he can read the iPhone group message text but he can't see all the people who are included in the message, just the sender. This what my old non-android phone used to do - which I was fine with.

So basically it's not your phone provider, it's a combination of the phone version you have and the stock android messaging app. Verizon's Messaging app worked like a charm on my phone and it's free.

BaronGrim · Jun 24, 2013

Thanks, I'll give this a try. It sounds like you've had the same experience as I did. I was ready to just give up after Virgin finally told me that. Of course they didn't say they didn't support it right away. The tech support person put me on hold at least three times so she could ask others before they finally said they didn't support group messages. You'd think this would be something they would already know. It can't be that uncommon of an issue.

BaronGrim · Jun 24, 2013

I got an alert after I installed it that integrated messaging (or something like that) was only available for Verizon numbers. I don't know if that will be an issue for me or not as I'm not quite sure what it refers to.

Nettar · Jun 24, 2013

I got the same thing too about integrated messaging but it didn't effect me receiving or sending texts

Nettar · Jun 24, 2013

Also make sure you uninstall any of the other SMS apps you may have downloaded. At the very least you'll get duplicate notifications but at the worse it will screw with your message receiving and possibly make the app not work.

painatl · Oct 11, 2013

I just spend 2 hours on tech support with a very advanced and helpful AT&T support representative. He ended up testing LG Optimus Pro, LG G2, HTC (several versions) and Samsung S3 & S4 phones from their lab for group texting capability. The only phones that support the group texting are the Motorola (Atrix, Atrix2, Atrix HD, Moto X and IPhones). I define "group texting" as follows: an individual is able to send a text message or mms message to multiple other phone numbers, those recipient phones receive the text showing the full group of people on the list, and the recipients are able to respond to all those people on the list. I hope this is helpful to everyone.

I tried the following most common recommendations without any success: SMSPro, Verizon Messaging, and Handcent. Also, it's not an Apple/Android compatibility problem.

BaronGrim · Oct 11, 2013

I think I finally determined that it's an unfixable problem for Virgin Mobile users. The Virgin/Sprint network just doesn't support MMS. This has been an issue for more than a year now. I don't mind so much that it might be unresolvable, but Virgin techs should be aware of this and they should post on the websites and forums that it's a known, unresolvable issue. That would save many users hours of frustration.

Pam Street · Aug 20, 2016

I have samsung s5 and have this problem. Hubby has sansung s3 and his works fine for this problem. Both VM. So its not a VM problem
I think its a phone isdue

tube517 · Aug 20, 2016

Pam Street said:
I have samsung s5 and have this problem. Hubby has sansung s3 and his works fine for this problem. Both VM. So its not a VM problem
I think its a phone isdue

Welcome to Android Forums!

Any iPhone users in your group? Do you receive any messages at all from them through the group?

vicisonline · Jan 7, 2017

I have the same issue. Has anyone found a solution for this?

Shay Norris · Mar 17, 2017

vicisonline said:
I have the same issue. Has anyone found a solution for this?

I had the same issue. I downloaded Verizon Messages, like Nettar suggested. You have to change the default messages app from Messages to Message+. Don't open the Messages icon anymore to view your messages. Replace the "Messages" icon with the new "Message+" icon. It has a different look and feel, but you have many more options, including viewing the recipients on messages sent to multiple people.

Hostilebyrd · Sep 4, 2018

I ALSO have Virgin Mobile & have been able to send group texts for YEARS ow since I just go thru the Facebook messenger BUT my brand new LG Stylo 4, I bought YESTERDAY, isn't letting me group text & in fact has had nothing but issues, with sms also, recognizing my contacts, you name it, this replacement phone for a brick piece of shit, is really turning out to be a dud too. Has ANYONE found a resolution for virgin mobile phones mms settings/messaging issues?????

Jon Petersen · Feb 9, 2022

I have T Mobile with an Android LG K500 phone. I had been getting group texts for years and showing multiple recipients however in the last few months, my phone is only showing the sender. I have no idea if this is a group text or individual. This causes confusion b/c I don't know who will be getting my responses to the texts. It must have changed with one of the previous updates. So this is not just a Virgin problem.

Help MMS issue: can't see multiple recipients in MMS group messages.

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