Mailgram

Mailgram

A mailgram is a type of telegraphic message which is transmitted electronically from the sender to a post office and then printed and delivered to the recipient via postal means.

In the United States, the Western Union Company started mailgram service in 1970.[1] Service via satellite was introduced in 1973.

The advantage of mailgrams over postal mail was speed and verifiability of transmission; they were widely used in official notifications and legal transactions. Their advantage over telegrams was lower cost and the ability to send to multiple recipients; with volume discounts, mailgrams became a medium for targeted, high-value advertising.

Although iTelegram still provides mailgram service in the United States, Western Union discontinued mailgram and telegram messaging services in 2006.

References

  1. ^ Oslin, George P. (1999). The Story of Telecommunications: From the Deep South to the Top of the Big Apple. Mercer University Press. pp. 417. ISBN 9780865546592. http://books.google.ca/books?id=e_H6lQWiY8wC&pg=PA417. Retrieved 2009-02-01. 

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