Reports claim that the 3G iPhone will include MMS

An Apple enthusiast blog claims it has seen an internal AT&T memo intended for its customer service representatives, stating that picture and video messaging are part of the new iPhone's feature set.

As iPhone Atlas mentions, AT&T's employees are not known for their accurate information. However, if verified, the emergence of this memo would mean the carrier is adding one of the missing features that the device has received some flak for failing to include.

AT&T's curious omission of any kind of text messaging from its iPhone 3G plans may also be a sign that it may be working on something, the site speculates. Current iPhone subscribers have text messages included in their plans, and other carriers worldwide have already included texting within their own offerings.

While standard SMS has reached levels of adoption in the US similar to where it had been elsewhere (we're still behind according to Gartner, though) with more feature-rich phones, MMS has begun to catch on. This has been furthered by the inter-carrier deals that the carriers first began signing three years ago.

Nearly all phones now include MMS capability, which allows for the sending of pictures and video by SMS, with the near ubiquity of cameras on phones. The iPhone has a camera too: but in order to send a picture, the user has to e-mail it.

Video was not supported in the first generation iPhone; however, a third party application now available to those who have jailbroken their phones, which allows for the recording of video, proves that it can be done.

Apple has made no mention of video capabilities with the iPhone 3G, but it's not out of the question that the feature may still be added. The company has often added features to its products with little or no advanced notice officially.

AT&T is not commenting on the report, directing the press to contact Apple. As is customary with most rumors, so far the Cupertino company has not responded to requests for comment.