E-cards
E-cards, also known as digital e-cards, digital cards, or electronic postcards, are greeting cards created and sent electronically as opposed to physically. E-cards can range from simple cards with static graphics and text, similar to physical cards, or more complex cards that feature animated content such as GIFs or video files, or even interactive content for the recipient.
History
the concept of E-Cards were invented in 1994[2], then mainly used in 1998 on the early internet days. Hallmark started making E-Cards in 1999 as GIF files, then replacing with with Flash on early 2000's.
the first hoops&yoyo e-card was 4th Of July released in 2001. which sparked popularity and gained its own page of e-cards in late 2002.
Popularity
E-Cards started getting popular at the beggining of the 2000's due to its creativity and Hallmark's other franchises such as Maxine. when Hoops&Yoyo was introduced it gained HUGE popularity , which e-cards being sent over an million e-cards.
Downfall
The downfall of the e-cards happended when every e-card Flash file was replaced by video files in 2015. This lead to a small backlash as the interactive e-cards were gone. Another downfall was the introduction of the Hallmark Video Cards in 2021 after the e-card service being shutdown on the same year, which is also getting discontinued on August 30th, of this year.
Discontinuation
On April 1st, 2021, people who visited the Hallmark eCard website were met with this notice:
"April 30, 2021 will be the last date of Hallmark eCards service. Starting May 1, 2021, you will no longer be able to access www.hallmarkecards.com, send eCards, receive eCards, or access your account. It has been a privilege to support you in strengthening your relationships through the use of eCards."
Meaning you could'nt send e-cards, recieve e-cards and visit e-cards anymore.
Luckily, Alec has archived every hoops&yoyo e-cards.[3]