Photobox to launch Facebook app

Digital printing group Photobox is developing applications that tap into Facebook friend networks to create personalised printed products.

The company, which acquired greetings card company Moonpig for £120m in July 2011, is to launch an app later this month that will incorporate photos and friends’ comments on the social networking website to create a new product line.

Moonpig’s existing Facebook app pulls in friends’ birthdays and automatically personalises a card based on their names and interests.

Moonpig has also recently launched an addition to its greetings card service that enables customers to film short videos on their mobile phones, which can then be unlocked by a paper card’s recipient.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Photobox chief executive Stan Laurent said: "We are trying to use technology to enhance the way people communicate and share joyful moments.

"The underlying point is people are communicating with friends and family at regular intervals and a lot of it is happening electronically. If we offer something that is exciting, they will do it through a physical card."

Photobox saw revenues across the group increase more than 20% to around £130m for the year to April 2012.