To be effective Fall of 09?

In response to concerns from the mailing community, the US Postal Service has said that it will support an additional price incentive for mailers who adopt the full service Intelligent Mail barcode (IMB) option.

Senior Vice President of Customer Relations, Stephen M. Kearney, sent a letter to MTAC members saying that the Postmaster General would recommend to the USPS Board of Governors that full-service IMB prices be lower than basic IMB and POSTNET prices. "This additional incentive for full-service adoption would be available in fall 2009," he wrote.

It now appears that USPS IMB implementation is scheduled for next Spring with the discount incentives coming next Fall. The USPS has said that additional IMB implementation details will be announce shortly in a Federal Register notice.

Jim O'Brien, chairman of Postcom and VP of distribution and postal affairs for Time Inc., stated that it would be difficult for mailers to justify their ROI in making the programming changes and process changes to implement IMB and that a rate differential between basic and full service IMB would go a long way toward justifying those added expenses.

The full-service option will require mailers to use unique IMBs on mail pieces as well as trays and containers. Mailers will also have to electronically submit postage statements and mailing documentation before mailings are inducted, among other requirements.