Method, apparatus and software program for extending the flow of information when transmitting a message

A method for extending a flow of information for reply charging functionality when transmitting a multimedia message via a UMTS mobile radio network from a transmitting application to a receiving application, the method comprising the steps of:

• using an originator network unit and a recipient network unit for the transmission, the originator network unit and the recipient network unit being different than each other and situated in a domain of two service providers, the message containing information regarding readiness of the originator to accept costs for a reply message from the recipient;
• and
• interchanging at least one information item with the recipient network unit, the information item selected from the group consisting of readiness of the originator to accept the costs for the reply message from the recipient, a time limit for sending a free-of-charge reply message, a maximum size of the reply message, and a message identification number of the original message when transmitting the reply message.

A method for extending a flow of information for a reply charging functionality when transmitting a multimedia message via a UMTS mobile radio network from a transmitting application to a receiving application, the method comprising the steps of:

• using an originator network and a recipient network unit situated in a domain of one or two service providers for the transmission, the multimedia message containing information regarding readiness of the originator to accept costs for a reply message from the recipient;
• and
• interchanging information about a maximum permissible size of the reply message via at least one of the transmitting application, the originator network unit, the recipient network unit and the receiving application.

A network unit in a UMTS network in a domain of a service provider, the network unit associated with at least one of a transmitting application and a receiving application, comprising:

• a part for transmitting multimedia messages from the transmitting application to the receiving application, the message being used to request a particular functionality in the domain of a service provider;
• and
• a part for interchanging information regarding support by the network unit of the requested functionality with another unit involved in the data interchange.

A mobile radio subscriber unit for communication in a UMTS mobile radio network, comprising:

• at least one receiving application for receiving multimedia messages from at least one network unit in a domain of a service provider, the messages containing a request for a particular functionality in the domain of a service provider;
• and
• a part for receiving and evaluating information regarding support of the requested functionality by the network units involved.