• Royal Mail today launches Swapshots - a new app that allows users to print and post photos directly from their mobile device. The free app is available to download now from Google Play and the App Store. It prints, posts and delivers photos, integrating digital, print and post
  • Swapshots is the latest development in Royal Mail's ongoing digital strategy
  • Photos can be personalised with messages, filters and unique overlays including moustaches, drinking straws and hats
  • Research by Ofcom¹ reveals that smartphones now take more photos than any other device, including digital cameras, with 60% of adults saying they use it most to take a snap, rising to almost nine in ten (89%) of 16-24 year olds
  • According to recent research, more than 1.2 billion selfies² are taken every day in the UK. This passion for photography has seen the number of physical prints remain consistent at 4.7 billion purchased every year³
Find out more at www.swapshots.com
Royal Mail today launches Swapshots - a new app that allows users to print and post photos directly from their mobile device. The free app is available to download now from Google Play and the App Store. It prints, posts and delivers photos, integrating digital, print and post

Swapshots is the latest development in Royal Mail's ongoing digital strategy

Photos can be personalised with messages, filters and unique overlays including moustaches, drinking straws and hats

Research by Ofcom¹ reveals that smartphones now take more photos than any other device, including digital cameras, with 60% of adults saying they use it most to take a snap, rising to almost nine in ten (89%) of 16-24 year olds

According to recent research, more than 1.2 billion selfies² are taken every day in the UK. This passion for photography has seen the number of physical prints remain consistent at 4.7 billion purchased every year³

Royal Mail has today launched its first consumer app - Swapshots - which aims to capture growth in the printed image market.

The free app, which is available to download from Google Play and the App Store now, integrates digital technology, printing and delivery in order to print, post and deliver photos within three days, at a cost of 85 pence per image. Credit can be bought either via a debit or credit card or through PayPal.

Tapping into the current personalisation trend, Swapshots gives users the opportunity to customise their pictures. They can add a message, coloured filters and a unique overlay design - such as a moustache, drinking straw or hat - to their photo. Once they are happy with their image and have entered the delivery address, Royal Mail will then print the image before delivering it in an envelope. Users can send a Swapshot even if they don't know the recipient's address with the 'claim a Swapshot' function. The specially designed system allows the recipient to enter their own address once they are alerted that they have an image waiting for them.

The power of the printed image

Growth in the use of smartphones has seen a rise in the number of digital photos we take. According to a research by Ofcom¹ smartphones now take more photos than any other device, including digital cameras, with 60% of adults saying they use it most to take a snap, rising to almost nine in ten (89%) of 16-24 year olds.

Further studies found that more than more than 1.2 billion selfies are taken every day in the UK². This passion for photography has seen the number of physical prints remain consistent at 4.7 billion purchased every year .

Charlie Herbert, multichannel customer experience director at Royal Mail, said: 'It's well-known that e-commerce has driven growth in UK parcel delivery. It's less well-understood that growth in digital photos is helping to sustain the popularity of the printed image. Royal Mail is uniquely positioned to bring these two elements together.

'Special moments are often captured on phones and then forgotten about, but with Swapshots users will be able to record these times, personalise them then share them with family and friends in just a few taps. It combines a high-quality, personalised digital image with the peace of mind that comes with a Royal Mail delivery. We hope it will bring the joy of sending and receiving mail to a whole new generation of customers.'

Swapshots is the latest development in Royal Mail's ongoing digital strategy. Royal Mail's digital strategy has seen it acquire Storefeeder and equity stakes in Mallzee and Market Engine.

Royal Mail has today launched its first consumer app - Swapshots - which aims to capture growth in the printed image market.

The free app, which is available to download from Google Play and the App Store now, integrates digital technology, printing and delivery in order to print, post and deliver photos within three days, at a cost of 85 pence per image. Credit can be bought either via a debit or credit card or through PayPal.

Tapping into the current personalisation trend, Swapshots gives users the opportunity to customise their pictures. They can add a message, coloured filters and a unique overlay design - such as a moustache, drinking straw or hat - to their photo. Once they are happy with their image and have entered the delivery address, Royal Mail will then print the image before delivering it in an envelope. Users can send a Swapshot even if they don't know the recipient's address with the 'claim a Swapshot' function. The specially designed system allows the recipient to enter their own address once they are alerted that they have an image waiting for them.

The power of the printed image

Growth in the use of smartphones has seen a rise in the number of digital photos we take. According to a research by Ofcom¹ smartphones now take more photos than any other device, including digital cameras, with 60% of adults saying they use it most to take a snap, rising to almost nine in ten (89%) of 16-24 year olds.

Further studies found that more than more than 1.2 billion selfies are taken every day in the UK². This passion for photography has seen the number of physical prints remain consistent at 4.7 billion purchased every year .

Charlie Herbert, multichannel customer experience director at Royal Mail, said: 'It's well-known that e-commerce has driven growth in UK parcel delivery. It's less well-understood that growth in digital photos is helping to sustain the popularity of the printed image. Royal Mail is uniquely positioned to bring these two elements together.

'Special moments are often captured on phones and then forgotten about, but with Swapshots users will be able to record these times, personalise them then share them with family and friends in just a few taps. It combines a high-quality, personalised digital image with the peace of mind that comes with a Royal Mail delivery. We hope it will bring the joy of sending and receiving mail to a whole new generation of customers.'

Swapshots is the latest development in Royal Mail's ongoing digital strategy. Royal Mail's digital strategy has seen it acquire Storefeeder and equity stakes in Mallzee and Market Engine.

For further information, contact:

Rebecca Maund: 0207 449 8246 / rebecca.maund@royalmail.com

Mark Street: 0207 449 8254 / mark.street@royalmail.com

Notes to editors

Royal Mail plc is the parent company of Royal Mail Group Limited, the leading provider of postal and delivery services in the UK and the UK's designated universal postal service provider. UK Parcels, International and Letters ('UKPIL') comprises the company's UK and international parcels and letters delivery businesses operating under the 'Royal Mail' and 'Parcelforce Worldwide' brands. Through the Royal Mail Core Network, the company delivers a one-price-goes-anywhere service on a range of parcels and letters products. Royal Mail has the capability to deliver to more than 29 million addresses in the UK, six days a week (excluding UK public holidays). Parcelforce Worldwide operates a separate UK network which collects and delivers express parcels. Royal Mail also owns General Logistics Systems (GLS) which operates one of the largest ground-based, deferred parcel delivery networks in Europe.

Royal Mail Holdings plc published this content on 23 May 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 23 May 2016 12:43:02 UTC.

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