The Death of the Business Card?

[Pixel Punch]

Theres no beating the feel of a thick business card.

Eink (electronic ink) fascinates me. I think in a decade or two it could be cheap enough to distribute animated business cards!

[Xenonsoft]

So that app sends just the basic information with no real resemblance to the current business card? I can't see that catching on, although it wouldn't surprise me if we saw electronic transfer of business card images.

[CheapestBusinessCards]

I think the giving and collecting of business cards will live on for many years to come. It was predicted that the net would end printed media for good......think of how many books there are on how to use the net!

There is a definate benefit to "E-cards," but how many people will keep them, file them, store them?

For now at least, we are still going to be using cards and keeping printers ( like us ) very busy.

[IS-James]

You have been able to exchange vcards using email or a mobile phone for years. It is another example of something that sounds like a great idea but in practice no-one bothers with it. Why go through the hassle of sending details to their phone, when you can just hand them a business card.

Business cards can be used to give an impression of quality and attention to detail, a concept that has been undermined in recent years by cheap digitally printed cards on low quality stock. A business card is a reflection of your company. A business card is also something that a client takes away with them, that will remind them of you later on. Instead of being one of hundreds of entries on their phone or computer they have a physical object to remind them to get back to you.

Of course cards can be lost so it is always a good idea to email people your details as well so that it is there when they get back to their computer.

Apple have a track record of 'inventing' supposedly ground breaking new features that will change everyones lives. They are almost always just a new way of presenting something that has been around for years, that no-one really bothers with. These e-cards will just be another thing that is hyped up in the 'Apple Club' but doesn't catch on in the mainstream because it is only supported by one device, the iPhone.

Edit:
I just want to add, this post isn't intended to be a dig at the above poster or anyone else who prints business cards and posts on this site. It is merely my opinion, there will always be a market for customers who are looking for a cheap price over anything else and there is nothing wrong with a business model based on that!

[IS-James]

Well here are two that I found that are under £30 and after 1 min of searching...

Digi View 7" Digital Photo Frame: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Technika 5.6" Digital Photo Frame - Tesco.Direct

Not on topic I know but beware of cheap LCD photo frames. They use TN panels so even on the best ones the viewing angle is only about 160 degrees horizontal and a lot less than that vertically. They are fine for sticking on your desk but if you put them on a bookshelves, mantle piece or anything else where it isn't going to be at eye height then the pictures will look like negatives from most places in the room.

[overnight]

It's not that business cards will be completely eliminated. I think both business cards and iphone will have their buyers.

One of the biggest factor for business cards is that they are cheap.

[Minuteman Press]

I was involved in research on the paperless office for Herman Miller Inc. The net result has been a 20% plus increase.