Apple, AT&T Sued For iPhone's Lack Of MMSApple, AT&T Sued For iPhone's Lack Of MMS

AT&T and Apple are facing a class-action lawsuit alleging the companies have misrepresented the iPhone's ability to send and receive MMS messages.

The lawsuit, filed in the Louisiana district court under the Unfair Trade Practices Act, complains that the companies advertise on TV, online, and print that the iPhone has MMS support even though the functionality is not available in the United States yet. The filing said it expects at least 10,000 individuals to join the lawsuit.

"The only excuse offered by AT&T and Apple is a mouse print disclaimer on the Web site, in [a] barely readable font, which reads 'MMS Support from AT&T coming in late summer,'" the filing said.

Long a hole in the iPhone platform, MMS support was just one of the many features unveiled when Apple rolled out the 3.0 software in June. The firmware update also included copy and paste, Spotlight search, user interface refinements, the ability to remotely wipe the device, and other features.

AT&T has said it will support MMS by late summer, and Apple has not responded to press inquiries as of press time. The 3.0 upgrade also enables users to share their iPhone's 3G connection with laptops and computers through tethering, but AT&T has not given an exact date when this feature will be available or how much it will cost. Neither company generally comments on ongoing litigation. This is not the first time Apple and AT&T have seen the court over the touch-screen smartphone, as the companies are also facing a lawsuit in New York which alleges AT&T's 3G network lacks the advertised bandwidth, and the iPhone is prone to physical defects.

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