Holiday greetings made more affordable

(NC)—Celebrating the holidays with faraway friends and family is getting easier and more affordable thanks to advances in Canada’s mobile phone market, says Anthony Booth, chief customer officer at Mobilicity, an unlimited wireless carrier.

“Canadians are finally starting to enjoy lower wireless rates with unlimited plans that include free long distance across Canada and the U.S.,” he explained. “Now, calling relatives located thousands of kilometres away can be as affordable as calling people in the same city from your mobile phone.”

Long-distance calling aside, Booth says there are many other ways to inexpensively stay connected to everyone over the holidays using a smartphone.

• Send quick holiday greetings, updates and photos via Twitter or BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). If you don’t have a data plan or would rather text, go with a carrier like Mobilicity that offers free global texting.

• Use your smartphone with a front-facing camera, like the HTC Panache, to film a video holiday card as an alternative to a traditional greeting card. Simply upload to a private link on YouTube and email your loved ones the link. Prefer talking in real-time? Some carriers offer affordable global long distance rates that rival calling card rates.

• Alternatively, use Internet-based calling apps like Skype and talk to your heart’s content without the worry of a costly bill.

www.newscanada.com

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“Not only do cards send warm wishes,” says Jennifer Kinnon of Hallmark Canada. “Your choice of card reveals something about you.”

(NC)—For more than 160 years, Canadians have been sending Christmas cards to connect with family and friends over the holidays. “Not only do cards send warm wishes,” says Jennifer Kinnon of Hallmark Canada. “Your choice of card reveals something about you.”

What’s the real message you’re sending?

Visions of sugarplums dance through your head. You’re a romantic. You put effort into preserving holiday traditions, right down to making Christmas pudding—from scratch.

The way you see it, humour is the best gift. You’re the rare laid-back reveler who wishes folks would stop stressing out and enjoy the season, like you do.

You’ve got tinsel in your blood. You think everything should be as Christmassy as possible and that means sending a card that sings. Keep it up: Your holiday spirit is infectious.

You have great empathy. For you Christmas is an opportunity to do some good in the world, so you give cards that give back, like Hallmark (RED) cards that help support the fight against AIDS in Africa.

Family comes first. Think of them and you burst with pride. You chose a family photo card that lets you record at 10-second holiday message to give your relatives the maximum cuteness effect.

You’re all about saving the planet, but you’re a traditionalist too. These facets of your personality come together in the form of a card made from recycled fibre and sugar cane pulp.

You can find more holiday tips at www.hallmark.ca or toll-free at 1-800-268-3230.

Holiday card etiquette: Mrs. or Ms?

Dreaming of a ‘write’ Christmas? “Sending holiday cards allows us to share news and hear from loved ones,” says Jennifer Kinnon of Hallmark Canada. “It’s a tradition most of us won’t do without.”

Add to your card-writing panache with these tips from the experts at Hallmark:

• Make your cards more personal with a little note and be sure to sign the card.

• Traditionally, family signatures begin with the father’s name, then the mother’s and finally the children. Or simply use “John, Mary and family.”

• For couples with two different last names, address the card to “John Jones and Mary Smith.”

• When addressing cards to family and friends, include their children’s names.

• For a married woman who uses her maiden name only at work, address the cards to “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith.” If she uses her maiden name for all occasions (work and social) address the card to “Mr. John Smith and Ms. Susan Jones.”

- News Canada

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