As the season of gift giving draws ever nearer, so too does the Herculean challenge of penning countless holiday cards, letters and notes to family, friends and colleagues near and far. Pre.vu is offering a digital-age alternative that could make such tasks a little easier by allowing consumers to record a personalised message onto a CD case or gift tag instead.

Voice, music and sound effects can be included in a 60-second message that’s incorporated in a credit card-sized gift tag or CD case to accompany a set of holiday photos, for example. The resulting recordings can be played back hundreds of times at the touch of a button. Shockwave is required for online recording, but consumers can also record their messages by phoning in to Pre.vu. Pricing is GBP 5.50 for a gift tag or GBP 2.50 for a talking CD case.