AmericanGreetings.com Launches Web-to-Mobile Greeting Card Service in U.S.
New technology enables e-cards to be delivered to cell phones
Contact: Megan Ferington, 216.252.4938
CLEVELAND, Aug. 8 -- AG Interactive, Inc., the e- card and interactive division of American Greetings Corporation (NYSE:
AM), has launched a new mobile e-card service that allows consumers to send a collection of specially designed e-cards via cell phone to recipients on most major U.S. wireless carriers. During its initial launch phase, the service is available for free in the U.S. to AmericanGreetings.com subscribers.
The new mobile e-card service uses the latest technology to deliver full- color, animated greetings to cell phones thanks to a partnership between AG Interactive and Image Semantics, a leading provider of media solutions for mobile messaging. The features of the mobile e-cards are best viewed on cellular devices with color screens, which represent approximately 80 percent of the cell phones currently in use in the U.S.
"Offering mobile e-cards is yet another way we are incorporating innovation and new technology into our products to ensure there's something for every way people want to communicate today," said Sally Babcock, Senior Vice President/General Manager, AG Interactive. "We're excited that we've been able to leverage our expertise and creativity in the online and e-card realms to the world of cellular technology thanks to our partnership with Image Semantics."
Consumers can find the full line of mobile e-cards at http://www.AmericanGreetings.com/mobile. Once an e-card is selected and personalized, the recipient receives a handset discovery message on their phone that detects the capabilities of the phone and carrier and requests permission to send the e-card. When the recipient responds back, the service delivers the mobile e-card in the best available format for the phone and the network of the destination carrier. There is no charge to send the e-cards for AmericanGreetings.com subscribers, but cellular providers may charge recipients a fee to receive an e-card, which typically range from 10 and 30 cents depending on their current messaging plan.
The service currently includes a collection of 11 birthday and nine anytime e-cards specifically designed for viewing on mobile phones. AG Interactive expects to add new mobile e-cards to the line throughout the fall and winter, including new content for Halloween, Christmas and other holidays. The e-cards can also be sent via regular email much like the other 5,000 e- cards available on the site. For more information on the service, visit http://www.AmericanGreetings.com/mobile.
About AG Interactive
AG Interactive (AGI), a subsidiary of American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM), is a global leader in licensing and creating original self and social expression products for online, instant messaging and mobile platforms. To create its premier content, the company leverages one of the world's largest creative studios and digital library of award-winning expressive content as well as an extensive international distribution capability. AGI attracts more than 30 million unique visitors per month in 18 countries to its popular websites http://www.AmericanGreetings.com, http://www.BlueMountain.com, and http://www.Egreetings.com as well as through Instant Messaging or online partnerships with AOL, MSN, and Yahoo!. The company has one of the largest online subscription services with over 3.6 million paying subscribers. For more information, visit http://www.aginteractive.com.
About American Greetings Corporation
American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of social expression products. Along with greeting cards, its product lines include gift wrap, party goods, stationery, calendars, ornaments and electronic greetings. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual net sales of approximately $1.7 billion. For more information, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com.
About Image Semantics
Image Semantics hosts messaging services on all UK networks and on Sprint and Verizon in the U.S. The company's messaging platforms can be adapted to support web to mobile services as well as mobile-to-mobile services. In addition the platforms have been used by major brands such as Coca Cola for brand sponsored marketing campaigns. The messaging platform is also complemented by a handset client under the 'Zippi' brand which is offered from the handset messaging menu, filling the gap between SMS and Photo messaging by enabling the user to combine professional content with personalised messages.
SOURCE American Greetings Corporation