The advent of the Internet saw a new the emergence of a new culture, a new world if you will, known to many as the cyber world. Not only can Internet users find information almost immediately, but they are also meeting others online, developing relationships. I have even heard of couples getting cyber married in cyber churches. I have never attended such an event however. I was never certain of what I should wear, nor did I know what gift to give the happy couple. And the idea of a cyber marriage raises many questions in my mind. Who gets the cyber dog in the event of a cyber divorce? And are we going to see a flurry of cyber divorce attorneys? I can see the court sheet already; "In the case of Hunk_59 vs Fun'n'Flirty..."

And users of the Internet are also able to obtain information fast. With a few simple keystrokes, a user may be able to find out the weather on the opposite side of the world, follow the ever changing stock market, chat. Everything seems to have become "instant". Now, we can even send virtual e-mail cards instantly.

Here is a list of my favourite virtual e-mail card sites:

www.care2.com

With its aim being to "build a greener world", this site raises revenue in order that it may be donated to worthwhile environmental charities. The site allows members and non-members to use a number of different features, and gains revenue from the advertising at the site. The features include e-mail accounts, a home page builder (homestead.com), communities which allow users to meet other members, and of course, ecards (the term for their virtual e-mail cards).

This site has a huge database of cards from which a user may choose. The cards are listed in easy to find categories which include "Birthdays", "Art", "Special Days", "Holidays" and "Endangered Wildlife". Users may even send games to others. The site is easy to navigate, free of charge, and gives clear instructions on how to send e-mail cards.

At Care2, users are able to add html to their messages, and are able to write longer messages than at most similar sites. The site even provides users with an easy to follow guide instructing them how to include html in the message.

The selection of cards is not only vast, but also of high quality. The images on the cards are incredibly well done, and include animations, photographs and cartoons. Users are also invited to add sounds to their cards, as well as backgrounds and "postage stamps".

Overall, this is my favourite such site, and one that I would highly recommend to other users.

www.bluemountain.com

BlueMountain is probably the most recognised virtual greeting card site. Like Care2, BlueMountain has a large database of cards from which to choose, and allows members to add extras. Such extras include voice messages, and even gift certificates. While the cards themselves are free to send, the gift certificates are not (obviously).

Most of the cards at this site are animated and contain added music. The cards are quite beautiful, and are generally in cartoon form. Many of the cards are now also interactive, allowing recipients to either play a game, or simple move through the card itself.

The only draw back with this site is the limited space included to write a personal message. The space is limited to about 4 lines, and each line is limited in the amount of characters it will accept.

Overall, this site has a great selection of enchanting cards, and the site is easy to navigate. Users may even add names to their own personal address book.

www.sharedgreetings.com

I became of this service recently when a friend sent me a card from the site. Upon receiving the card, I explored the site a little myself, as I am often looking for new greeting card sites to use.

Although the site has less category selections than Care2 and BlueMountain, SharedGreetings does offer many fun and whimsical animated cards. But the main draw to the site is the possibility of winning prizes. With every card that is sent, the sender and the recipient are placed into a draw, with the prize being one selected by the sender at the time the card is sent. These prizes range from camping equipment and outdoor barbecues to jewellery and flowers.

The site is relatively easy to navigate, with all instructions clearly labelled. Upon clicking the link to the cards, a new window opens which lists all categories. Users simple search through the cards, clicking on the one they wish to send.

Retrieval of the card is also simple, with a direct link placed in the e-mail that is sent to the recipient.

While the cards are generally good quality, often fun and whimsical, this is not a site I would use when sending a more heartfelt card. The idea of having used the site in hopes of winning a prize seems to cheapen the thought behind having sent the card in the first place.

1001 Postcards - http://www.postcards.org/postcards/

With over 900 card categories, there is something for everyone at this site. Some of the unique category titles include "Pianos", "Australia", "Canada", "Teachers", "Golf", "Bosses", and so on.... Users are also able to view random cards, as well as the most popular cards sent from the site.

Users are able to select between animated and non-animated cards, which are clearly marked by type. Cards range from beautiful photographs to more whimsical cartoons. Again, site instructions are easy to follow, and the site is easy to navigate. Users are able to move to another other part of the site from each page.

Web Ventures - http://www.webventuresinc.com/venture1/

Web Ventures offers a unique virtual card experience. Instead of simply sending a greeting card with a chosen picture, Web Ventures allows users to send whole virtual experiences. Users are able to select these adventures from a number of categories, including "Breakfast In Bed" and "Intimate Touch".

Each virtual adventure is made up of 5 parts. These "parts" generally start at the beginning of an imagined evening. Users are able to choose from the type of transport used to pick up their date, gifts bought for that person, the place where the couple eat, where they sleep. Basically the sender is able to plan an entire evening.

Because there are 5 parts to sending this type of card, more time and thought is put into sending a card from this site. Users are able to add their own story to each part of the adventure, and this can take time. I would suggest writing the story parts in a word processing program first, allowing the user to save the story in case of technical difficulties.

This site is more suited to "lovers", more specifically, those involved in Internet relationships. However, the site is expanding and now offers a "Mother's Day" section.

http://www.virtualdrawing.com/

As suggested by the site's name, Virtual Drawing allows users to send virtual e-mail cards that they draw themselves. The main page includes a small java box which the user can draw in using their mouse. Users may choose from a number of colours to complete their drawing, which can then be sent to friends and family members. The site is quite easy to use and navigate, and like all other services listed above, is free to users.

This is a fun, and unique way to send a virtual card, and again, needs thought and imagination from the user.


Recommended: Yes