iPhone Community Gets Post Office

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Jan 04, 2010, 12:27 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Apple Computer's App Store now offers a new free U.S. Postal Service application for iPhone and iPod touch mobile digital devices.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100104/DC31713 )

The new USPS Mobile application takes advantage of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) capabilities, using the Locator function to show Post Offices, Automated Postal Centers and Collection Boxes in closest proximity to the user. Maps and directions -- driving, walking or mass transit -- to the closest location also are provided.

The Track and Confirm feature provides a visual monitor of the progress of the mail pieces and requires only initial input of tracking code numbers so that follow-ups are only one click away.

Another innovative feature, the Postal Service app has a ZIP Code lookup that provides the user with the ZIP Code of the user's current location, using the phone's GPS capability.

"The Postal Service is America's largest retailer, with 36,000 Post Offices and retail outlets in communities across the country. Now the iPhone community has a Post Office as well," says Robert Bernstock, president, Mailing and Shipping Services.

Today's announcement of the application for iPhone and iPod touch devices expands the Postal Service's move last fall to provide easy-to-use functionality to mobile phone users. Additional USPS applications for other internet-enabled mobile devices are in development.

"We want to continue our 234-year tradition of serving every American community, whether it's in a Post Office, online or even over the phone," Bernstock said.

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world's mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 28th in the 2009 Fortune 500.

Apple, the Apple logo, iPod touch, and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service