E-Postage Efficiencies.For the association executive running a small office, running to the post office--and waiting in long lines--may quickly become a distant memory. The U.S. Postal Service The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) processes and delivers mail to individuals and businesses within the United States. The service seeks to improve its performance through the development of efficient mail-handling systems and operates its own planning and engineering programs. has given the go-ahead to four private firms to offer postage via the Internet. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Forbes (January 10, 2000), "these upstarts--which let you print postal indicia Signs; indications. Circumstances that point to the existence of a given fact as probable, but not certain. For example, indicia of partnership are any circumstances which would induce the belief that a given person was in reality, though not technically, a member of a given on envelopes using standard printers, along with USPS-verified address labels--are targeting the 22 million home offices and 7.5 million companies with fewer than 100 employees." Perhaps your small-staff association office should be one of them. (Most electronic postage programs require a personal computer with at least 16 megabytes of RAM and a laser or inkjet printer.) Postage online, not in line Here's how it works. * Install software. You may download software, order CD-ROMs, or buy software from retail stores. Prices vary among providers; some sell the software while others charge monthly fees. * Print postage. The new postage can be used for first-class, priority, and express-mail service, as well as for parcel post. Like other forms of postage such as meter impressions and stamps, the Information Based Indicia Information Based Indicia refers to a system used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) for labels or marks to be applied to the mail item to indicate electronic postage payment. is printed on an envelope in the upper right-hand corner, or on a label for an envelope or package. There's no need for special printers; you can print IBI See Information Builders. postage directly from your laser or inkjet printer. * Mail it. You can simply drop mail and packages off at your nearest mailbox or--better yet--many locations offer free pick-up service by USPS (1) (Uninterruptible Switching Power Supply) A power supply for a computer that contains its own battery and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) circuitry. See power supply and UPS. . Multiple benefits A 24-hour online post office is the most obvious advantage. Here are a few of the other benefits to the new e-postage. * Print postage anytime. Purchased postage is stored online or in a special storage vault that plugs into your computer. You may print on envelopes, labels, or documents using a standard printer. At least one service allows you to access your accumulated postage without the need to remain connected to the Internet. * Integrate the program with other software. Internet postage works with many popular software applications, allowing you to apply postage while you do word processing or create invoices. * Verify addresses. USPS requires that address verification be performed, and the programs include a CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). that contains all deliverable addresses in the United States and validates your addresses to ensure faster delivery of your mail. Early drawbacks As with many new technology applications, there have been some reported growing pains grow·ing pains pl.n. Pains in the limbs and joints of children or adolescents, frequently occurring at night and often attributed to rapid growth but arising from various unrelated causes. . Some of the programs don't yet print labels, some establish a minimum monthly fee even if you don't Even If You Don't is a single released by the band Ween in 2000 on Mushroom Records. Formats Enhanced CD single Includes the quicktime video of "Even If You Don't" directed by Matt Stone & Trey Parker of "South Park". buy any postage that month, and others have been known to disrupt certain computer operations. Check these things out before selecting a provider. And, of course, there is a convenience charge for the service, varying from a monthly fee ($15 for one of the services) to a flat fee of 10 percent of postage purchased. Visit the service Web sites for more information. If You Don't Want to Lick 'Em... Four private companies have received approval from the United States Postal Service to offer postage via the Internet. Pitney Bowes, the most recent to receive the USPS authorization, began beta testing (programming) beta testing - Testing a pre-release (potentially unreliable) version of a piece of software by making it available to selected users. This term derives from early 1960s terminology for product cycle checkpoints, first used at IBM but later standard throughout the its Internet-based postage solution in March. To find out more about the four providers, visit their Web sites: * E-Stamp (the first company to sell Internet postage commercially) * Stamps.com, www.stamps.com www.e-stamp.com/associations * ClickStamp from Pitney Bowes, www.pitneyworks.com * SimplyPostage from Neopost, www.simplypostage.com |
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