IP: THE POST OFFICE PLANS TO DELIVER E-MAIL AS WELL: Edupage, 7 July 2000

[Dave Farber <farber@cis.upenn.edu>]

>The U.S. Postal Service, facing increasing pressure from
>e-commerce, is planning a number of Internet initiatives,
>including a plan to provide e-mail addresses for every person in
>the U.S.  Users would be able to track and redirect their
>traditional mail and packages using the e-mail service.  In
>addition, the service would provide e-mail notices to users to
>inform them of an incoming package.  Although the prospect of
>merging electronic and physical addresses has evoked privacy
>concerns, Deputy Postmaster General John Nolan says the Postal
>Service has always been sensitive to privacy and security issues,
>and unlike e-commerce firms, it has no interest in selling
>consumer information.  The service would include a secure digital
>mailbox that would hold e-mail as well as electronic information.
>The Postal Service plans to begin offering the service in the
>next several years.  Already, the Postal Service is involved in
>online bill paying and online mailing lists.
>(Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 July 2000)