Window Book Postal Concierge--A friendly reminder that in just barely more than a month, the USPS® will implement their annual price increases for mailing and shipping products. At that same time, a new Mail.dat® specification will be implemented: version 14-1. The current Mail.dat specification is version 13-1. PostalOne!® will be updated in January 2014 to accommodate the new prices as well as the new 14-1 Mail.dat version. Mailers will need to be prepared to submit the new postage statements and the new Mail.dat file version.
Timeline
The PostalOne! update for the new release will take effect on January 12, 2014. As soon as it is available, mailers should download and install the new USPS MD Client software in order to be able to submit mailings at the new rates and using new Mail.dat 14-1 files. The USPS sends notifications regarding the PostalOne! updates via the DMM Advisory, so if you are not already a subscriber, you can be added to the distribution list by sending an email to dmmadvisory@usps.com. While the PostalOne! release for the new prices is available starting on January 12, 2014, please note that the new prices do not take effect until January 26, 2014.
The chart below shows the PostalOne! timelines for the various postage statement versions and Mail.dat file versions. 
Timeline
The PostalOne! update for the new release will take effect on January 12, 2014. As soon as it is available, mailers should download and install the new USPS MD Client software in order to be able to submit mailings at the new rates and using new Mail.dat 14-1 files. The USPS sends notifications regarding the PostalOne! updates via the DMM Advisory, so if you are not already a subscriber, you can be added to the distribution list by sending an email to dmmadvisory@usps.com. While the PostalOne! release for the new prices is available starting on January 12, 2014, please note that the new prices do not take effect until January 26, 2014.
The chart below shows the PostalOne! timelines for the various postage statement versions and Mail.dat file versions.
Changes incorporated into Mail.dat 14-1
Some of the major changes included in the new Mail.dat 14-1 version:
Some of the major changes included in the new Mail.dat 14-1 version:
Made the Package Quantity File (PQT) required rather than optional.
Added new field FCM Letter Residual Preparation Indicator in the Segment (SEG) file for the new preparation in commercial and commercial plus First-Class Letter prices.
Daggered "V = FCM Election Mail" in the Mail Piece Unit (MPU) file Rate Type field and also in the Component (CPT) file Rate Type field to reflect the removal of this rate type by the USPS.
Added value "AD = Advertising" and "CP = Color Ink" in Characteristic field to add support for new USPS incentives.
Added values "FS = FSS Scheme", "FF = FSS Facility", "FC = FSS Scheme Barcode", and "FN = FSS Scheme Non-Barcode" to the description of Rate Category in the Container Quantity Record (CQT) to support these new prices.
Added value of "9" to the description of Zone files in the Container Quantity Record (CQT) to support the additional Zone for Priority Mail.
Added value "(Periodicals) W = FSS" to the description of the Zone field in the Container Quantity Record (CQT) to support the destination FSS entry point zoning for Periodicals.
Added values "W = DFSS" and "Y = Origin FSS" in the description of Entry Point for Entry Discount-Facility Type field in the Container Summary Record (CSM) to support those new entry point types.
Added new field "eInduction Misshipped Container Payer CRID" in the Container Summary Record (CSM) for eInduction invoicing exception priority.
Renamed the Delivery Signature Confirmation ID field to USPS Tracking Signature ID in the Piece Detail Record (PDR) to reflect the USPS change in name for the service.
Added new value "NP = Non-barcoded Parcel Fee" to the Service Type field in the Special Fees/Charges Record (SFR) to account for the new non-barcode parcel fee.
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