Apple's Card app: Create and send cards for $2.99!

CUPERTINO: Apple revealed a new app on Tuesday that lets users create and mail greeting cards with their iPhones. A brief mention about the $2.99 app that lets people design and send greeting cards through the postal service was made.

Scott Forstall, Apple's senior vice president for iOS mobile software, released details of the app during an event at the company's Cupertino, California, headquarters as it also unveiled the latest version of the iPhone.

According to Apple, the new Cards app allows one to create and mail cards personalized with own text and photos. This facility is available both on iPhone and iPod touch. The card costs $2.99 when sent within the US and $4.99 when sent to or from anywhere else. And that includes postage.

Apple also claims that the same card, invitation, or announcement can be sent to more than one person. The card history is designed to save orders.

The announcement of the new technology, perhaps the perfect app for procrastinators, sent shares of American Greetings Corp., based in Cleveland, down more than 6 percent to close at $16.68.

Shutterfly Inc. fell more than 2 percent to close at $39.42. Shutterfly lets people print and share digital photos or make personalized greeting cards or photo books.

Apple Inc., which introduced the iPhone 4S Tuesday, also saw its stock fall because of rampant speculation that the company would release a more radical upgrade, an iPhone 5. Its stock fell more than 4 per cent in afternoon trading before rebounding to close at $372.50, down 0.6 percent.