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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Snail mail gets net speed boost | Snail mail gets net speed boost |
| (3 days later) | |
| By David Reid Reporter, BBC Click Advertisement | By David Reid Reporter, BBC Click Advertisement |
| Click looks at the Swiss Post system | Click looks at the Swiss Post system |
| The internet has revolutionised the speed at which people communicate. | The internet has revolutionised the speed at which people communicate. |
| Now the Swiss postal service is hoping to do the same for regular snail mail. | Now the Swiss postal service is hoping to do the same for regular snail mail. |
| The company offers a service called Swiss Post Box to customers wanting to receive their physical letters over the internet. | The company offers a service called Swiss Post Box to customers wanting to receive their physical letters over the internet. |
| This system was first developed by the Seattle-based company Earth Class Mail, which has its own subscribers around the world. | This system was first developed by the Seattle-based company Earth Class Mail, which has its own subscribers around the world. |
| 'Relevant mail' | 'Relevant mail' |
| For 14 euros (£12) a month, letters are redirected to a secret location in Zurich where the envelopes are scanned and an image is e-mailed out to customers. | For 14 euros (£12) a month, letters are redirected to a secret location in Zurich where the envelopes are scanned and an image is e-mailed out to customers. |
| They can then decide whether letters should be opened and scanned by vetted personnel sworn to secrecy, or simply shredded. | They can then decide whether letters should be opened and scanned by vetted personnel sworn to secrecy, or simply shredded. |
| Frank Marthaler from Swiss Post said the service cuts down on junk mail | Frank Marthaler from Swiss Post said the service cuts down on junk mail |
| Frank Marthaler, executive vice president of Swiss Post, said this enables customers to spend time reading only the letters that they want. | Frank Marthaler, executive vice president of Swiss Post, said this enables customers to spend time reading only the letters that they want. |
| "You will get a higher relevance of mail you really get and you want to have because the others would be shredded and recycled," he explained. | "You will get a higher relevance of mail you really get and you want to have because the others would be shredded and recycled," he explained. |
| His subscriber base started with small target groups: "Those are of course expats, but obviously also consultants working across Europe or even globally, who want to be online with their home." | His subscriber base started with small target groups: "Those are of course expats, but obviously also consultants working across Europe or even globally, who want to be online with their home." |
| Internet power | Internet power |
| The Swiss Post Box service is currently only available in Switzerland and Germany, with plans to expand to locations in France, Italy and Austria this year. | The Swiss Post Box service is currently only available in Switzerland and Germany, with plans to expand to locations in France, Italy and Austria this year. |
| The service is tapping into the power of the internet which is replacing snail mail business with e-mails, documents in PDF files and downloads. | The service is tapping into the power of the internet which is replacing snail mail business with e-mails, documents in PDF files and downloads. |
| Postman Claude Monney says people will always write and post letters | Postman Claude Monney says people will always write and post letters |
| "A proportion of letters that were previously posted have now been replaced by e-mails, SMS, etc," said Miguel Sanchez, head of distribution for Geneva at Swiss Post. | "A proportion of letters that were previously posted have now been replaced by e-mails, SMS, etc," said Miguel Sanchez, head of distribution for Geneva at Swiss Post. |
| One person who does not think snail mail has had its day is postman Claude Monney. | One person who does not think snail mail has had its day is postman Claude Monney. |
| "I think we will always have postmen. There are people who just love putting pen to paper and sending it through the post. I'm not scared," he told Click. | "I think we will always have postmen. There are people who just love putting pen to paper and sending it through the post. I'm not scared," he told Click. |
| "I love being outside. And you form a bond with the customers. You can have a chat. It's wonderful," he added. | "I love being outside. And you form a bond with the customers. You can have a chat. It's wonderful," he added. |
| Trust | Trust |
| The postal firm are aiming to re-create this bond with the customer in the online world - it wants to build up a reputation for handling personal data reliably. | The postal firm are aiming to re-create this bond with the customer in the online world - it wants to build up a reputation for handling personal data reliably. |
| "Every postal business is a real trusted third party in their countries. What we are lacking to do real business online is this third party trust," explained Mr Marthaler. | "Every postal business is a real trusted third party in their countries. What we are lacking to do real business online is this third party trust," explained Mr Marthaler. |
| "The internet is a fantastic tool, but it is also a wide space for criminals and what we try to really be is the trusted third party in this environment," he added. | "The internet is a fantastic tool, but it is also a wide space for criminals and what we try to really be is the trusted third party in this environment," he added. |
| Watch Click on BBC News Channel, Saturday 29 August at 11.30 (BST). | Watch Click on BBC News Channel, Saturday 29 August at 11.30 (BST). |
| SEND YOUR COMMENTS | SEND YOUR COMMENTS |
| We would like to have your letters delivered via e-mail? Or do you prefer the old fashioned snail mail? | We would like to have your letters delivered via e-mail? Or do you prefer the old fashioned snail mail? |
| Please e-mail us your views on this subject using the form below. | Please e-mail us your views on this subject using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |