Apple is planning to take on the greetings card market, creating physical mail from a digital application.
The consumer electronics giant, which is this week mourning the passing of its visionary leader Steve Jobs, is launching a new application for its iPhone smartphones that will allow users to create and mail personalised greetings cards using the phone’s camera.
Cards, as the app is called, will initially be available in the US, where will cost $2.99 per card.
Purchased cards will be sent out via the US Postal Service, within premium cotton paper envelopes, and Apple will then send a text message back to the sender when the card has arrived in the recipient’s local post office for delivery the next day.
Due to be launched on October 12, along with the next version of its mobile operating system, iOS 5, the Cards app was heralded as one of the highlights of its new operating system during this week’s launch of the new iPhone 4S.
Although various apps already exist enabling the production of postcards using smartphone cameras, Cards will have the substantial marketing power of Apple behind it, along with high-profile availability through the standard iPhone operating system.
Apple has been working with the US Postal Service on shipping arrangements for mail arising from the app. Apple will produce postage stickers to be added to card envelopes, which will resemble stamps and signify that postage has been paid.
Cards going to international destinations will, however, bear actual USPS stamps – in the form of the 98-cent Grand Teton National Park international stamp, affixed by Stamp Services for Apple in Kansas City.
