Mailgram
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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, usually the next day.
In the United States, the Western Union Company started mailgram service in 1970. 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.
Like telegrams, mailgrams were largely made obsolete by fax communications and e-mail.
Although iTelegram still provides mailgram service in the United States, Western Union discontinued mailgram and telegram messaging services in 2006.
