14 DAY TRIAL // Cards, a new service that allows you to compose a greeting card on your iPhone and have it physically shipped, has been released as a native iOS application in the iTunes App Store.
Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, Cards requires iOS 5.0 or later so that customers can create and mail beautifully crafted cards personalized with their own text and photos.
Apple explains how the app works: “Take a quick snapshot and with a few taps and swipes, an elegant thank you note or ‘wish-you-were-here’ card is on its way to any address in the world.”
“Choose from 21 designs and customize your card with a personal message and photo,” Apple continues. “Then select an address from your Contacts and place your order in seconds.”
Available designs span sic occasions: Thank You, Holiday, New Baby, Birthday, Love, and Travel and users can customize the placeholder text for any occasion. You can add a photo to your card or simply send a card with nothing but text - your choice.
Cards are made from 100 percent cotton paper, says the company. Apple imprints them with an elegant debossed design before sending. The company uses an old letterpress technique to add the text.
It gets better! You can choose one of the Travel designs and your card automatically displays the name of your current location. If you choose a photo with GPS data, the card even shows the name of the place where the photo was taken, according to the makers.
You can send a card within the U.S. for $2.99 (including postage), and for $4.99 internationally. The service itself, however, is available solely to U.S. residents.
U.S. Cards use of the United States Postal Service Intelligent Mail barcode. Users receive a notification on their iPhone or iPod touch on the day the card is to be delivered.
Finally, the app offers a card history feature where all the works are automatically saved so they can be re-used, or at least viewed again.