AmericanGreetings.com Launches Web-to-Mobile Greeting Card Service in U.S. |
New technology enables e-cards to be delivered to cell phones
CLEVELAND, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 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
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CONTACT:
Megan Ferington of American Greetings
Corporation, +1-216-252-7300 ext. 4931,
Megan.Ferington@amgreetings.com
