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Rediff.com  » Business » Post offices to print and deliver business emails

Post offices to print and deliver business emails

By Mansi Taneja
January 11, 2010 14:38 IST
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Just as many may not have written a letter in ages, an equally large population -- larger, in all probability -- may not have ever used email. Into this breach steps the Department of Posts (DoP), with 'ePost Corporate'.

The new scheme, which has been available to individuals for some time, is about to be thrown open to small and big companies, which will be able to send business emails through the internet across the country. These email will be printed and delivered by the postal department.

The companies would need to open a business account with the postal department free of cost. The payment for all the business done could be made at the end of the month, DoP General Manager (Business Development) John Samuel told Business Standard.

The postal department would charge Rs 6 per page of email. It soft-launched the service in Kerala on January 1, and would extend it to the rest of the country.

DoP would also offer a complete solution for business mails -- from printing, packaging, post printing and delivery. It has set up two printing facilities in Delhi and Kolkata.

The companies would need to provide data for their business mails. The postal department would do the programming and prepare the layout, print, package and deliver the product.

The mails could include credit card statements, mobile phone bills and other marketing related information.

"We are working on the details of the service. It will be introduced across India in the next one month," said Samuel, adding the company having the account with the postal department can decide how the mails need to be sent -- through standard letters or speed post.

"We have already started receiving orders for the service. It would reduce the workload of companies, besides helping them to cut costs," he said, declining to reveal the size of the orders. The department expects huge growth after the introduction of the services. Samuel refused to share the revenue expectations.

For individual customers, the postal department is already running its 'ePost' service at Rs 10 per page.

"Internet and email have revolutionised the world of communications, but its accessibility continues to be a problem for many people, especially in the rural areas. Aiming to bridge the digital divide, we have introduced ePost," said Samuel.

"Through ePost, customers can send their messages to any location in India in combination of electronic transmission and physical delivery through a network of over 155,000 post offices," he said.

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Mansi Taneja in New Delhi
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