Texting (MMS)
Lightpost also allows your congregation to text groups for quick communication via MMS.
What is an MMS message?
MMS messages are similar to SMS, but allow for much longer messages and images.
MMS messages are different than mobile notifications, which users can receive for various things (worship assignments, group posts, etc) and require the member be logged into the Lightpost mobile application to receive them.
MMS messages do have an extra cost associated with them due to the requirement of using a third party service to send MMS messages.
Special Notes About MMS
MMS messages can contain up to 1600 characters.
MMS messages must contain one image for our service provider and carriers to properly send it as an MMS message, and not multiple, more expensive SMS messages.
If no image is provide, a default image will be generated for you that shows the user the name of your congregation and the name of the group that the message is being sent to.
MMS messages will show up as a different message on some devices.
Depending on the carrier and network, the sender number shows up as:
"
1235551234" for an MMS"
+1 (123) 555-1234" for an SMS
This can appear on a device as two different senders. This is normal and expected due to carrier and network patterns.
How are MMS messages counted?
Lightpost counts an MMS message as every 1600 characters and optional image sent to each users' unique phone number.
Lightpost automatically filters out duplicate numbers and duplicate recipients.
If multiple people have the same phone number, only one message will be sent.
If a user has multiple mobile phone numbers, a message will only be sent to their primary number.
First message confirmation
When an MMS message is sent to a user from Lightpost for the first time, Lightpost sends a total of 3 messages to inform the user about why they're receiving an MMS message from this number.
These three messages will include information such as:
The first message let's the user know what congregation text messages from this phone number are coming from.
The second message informs the user how to opt-out of and opt-in to future messages.
The third message is the first message you are sending to the group.
These messages only happen one time for each users' phone number, regardless of what group the MMS comes from.
How to send an MMS message
STEP 1
In the Admin, open the group's "Messaging" tab, select the "Enable messaging by MMS" option, and click "Save Changes".
STEP 2
Open Group Roles and enable Authorized Sender for each person who may send an MMS message.
Only people in the group are listed. Add the person on the group's Members page first if needed.
Authorized Sender is separate from Group Admin and Group Post Admin. Account Admins must also be explicitly authorized for the group.
See Group Roles and Event Permissions for more about Authorized Senders.
STEP 3
Authorized Senders can send from the Admin, the member web app, or the mobile app.
From the Admin
In the Admin, find the group you wish to message, and click on the group.
Go to the "Send MMS" section. It appears once MMS is enabled for the group.
Enter the message you wish to send.
Optionally choose an Image to include. It must be a JPG or PNG file of 500KB or less.
To send it later, select "Schedule for later" and choose a date and time.
Click "Send MMS".
A cost estimate is provided for you at the bottom of the page.
Sending from the Admin requires the Manage Groups admin permission in addition to being an Authorized Sender.
From the member web app
Go to Groups and open the group.
Select Messaging, then the MMS tab.
Enter the message, optionally select "Schedule for later", and click "Send MMS".
Messaging only appears for Authorized Senders who are members of the group, and the group must appear in their Groups list. A group is listed there when it has Group Posts or a Group Forum, a group calendar, or video calls turned on. For any other group, send from the Admin or the mobile app.
From the mobile app
Authorized Senders can also send and schedule MMS messages from the Lightpost mobile app, including for groups they are not a member of.
How to schedule an MMS message
Select "Schedule for later" when writing the message, then choose the date and time. Times use your account's time zone, and the time can be set between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM.
Scheduled messages can be cancelled any time before they are sent:
In the Admin — open the group's Scheduled section and click Cancel. The section appears when the group has a scheduled message.
In the member web app — open the group's Messaging page and use the Scheduled tab.
Troubleshooting
"Send MMS" is missing in the Admin — MMS is not enabled for the group. See Step 1.
"User is not an authorized sender for MMS messages." — you are not an Authorized Sender for this group. See Step 2. This applies to Account Admins as well.
"Messaging" is missing in the member web app — you are not an Authorized Sender for the group, you are not a member of it, or SMS, MMS, and voice are all turned off for the group.
How to view MMS history
In the Admin, find the group you wish to message, and click on the group.
Go to the "Message History" section.
Click on any past message to view details about who received the text messages and any errors or failures.
Scheduled and cancelled messages are listed in Message History as well.
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