As electronic messaging continues to gain popularity over handwritten correspondence, the U.S. Postal Service hopes to maintain its tradition of providing secure delivery of information through its Electronic Postmark.
As electronic messaging continues to gain popularity over handwritten correspondence,
the U.S. Postal Service hopes to maintain its tradition of providing secure
delivery of information through its Electronic Postmark.
USPS' Electronic Postmark, released April 20, can be attached to any
Internet communication and protects documents by detecting if a document
or file has been tampered with in transit. The postmark also will make it
easier to investigate and determine who tampered with a document and when.
Similar to a receipt one receives when mailing a package, customers
using the Electronic Postmark will be able to provide proof that a document
existed at a specific time and date.
"The Electronic Postmark will give online communicators a little peace
of mind and add a level of trust and security that Americans have come to
expect from sending a regular hard-copy letter," deputy Postmaster General
John Nolan said. "Today, the Postal Service brings our trademark values
of security, trust and tradition to the brave new world of the Internet."
The Electronic Postmark is not a replacement for e-mail service, but
rather an added feature that Internet service providers can offer customers,
a USPS spokeswoman said. PostX Corp., a provider of applications for high-volume,
secure Internet platforms, is the first commercial vendor to offer the Electronic
Postmark to its customers.
"This is an innovative service that combines the integrity and protection
of the Postal Service with the speed and convenience of the Internet," said
R.C. Venkatraman, founder and chief executive officer of PostX.
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