Zumbox Presents a New Alternative to Postal Mail

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MypewroNwopay of AL @ Nov 06, 2009 16:34:41 PM

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Alex76 of IA @ Oct 22, 2009 22:00:15 PM

Real postal mail online

PaperlessMail.com takes a different approach. Traditional postal mail is received and run through high speed extraction and scanning equipment to create image files. Patented software prepares PDF files from the image files and systematically routes them to the recipient via email and/or an online repository. Junk mail may be filtered out at no additional charge. The service is $9.95 per month. Receive mail anytime anywhere no matter you are. Stay better organized with PDF instead of paper mail. Businesses cut mail processing costs.

Scott Coleman of CA @ Sep 17, 2009 02:13:17 AM

zumbox

I will never pay my bills on line. I want to be in control of my mail. Going on computer to get your mail thats crazy. Someone could hack into yoursite and see you bills. I don't think so. This site just trying to take jobs from postal service. That effect my husband who is a mail carrier.

Jennifer of CT @ Aug 28, 2009 10:58:41 AM

replacing usps?

Not entirely I don't think.

There are Many without the net or those who don't use the net that much.

Maybe in the future, but I don't see it happening at this time.

I do hope to see them work together, however, if possible that may be.

Lori of AL @ Feb 21, 2009 00:01:08 AM

Sorry, I fail to see the point...

There are plenty of email and electronic bill pay options already that fit a number of lifestyles. In the last year, the only USPS mail I've sent contained a gift. When you scan a box of chocolates and make them materialize at a computer on the other end, let me know. Until then, I'll continue using Amazon. In my opinion, this is just another email service (albeit clever) hidden in a trademarked name, slogan, and street address as unique identifier. Only worse... It's proprietary!

willy w. of CA @ Feb 20, 2009 20:35:38 PM

Not All or Nothing

This response is on behalf of Zumbox.

The Zumbox technology is a natural evolution. Consider that most if not all paper mail starts out in a digital format. Digital is the native format for mail today. Until recently, we had little choice but to print it, send it, and hand deliver it. Zumbox simply enables mail to be delivered to the same address in its native, digital format.

With regard to the USPS, Zumbox simply offers an alternative. It's a choice. The company does not seek to replace the USPS nor to force anyone to use the service. When FedEx was introduced, it was in response to a need for overnight delivery. The USPS didn't offer it, so FedEx did. In a similar way, Zumbox is responding to the need for digital delivery. It's an option that people can choose to use. But it will never replace the personal touch and intimacy of a hand-written note or holiday card. On that, we certainly agree.

With regard to jobs, we just wrote a blog post that touches on this subject from a different perspective. With Zumbox, companies can save substantially on postage, printing, and paper costs. Given the economic crisis, this can enable them to retain and/or hire employees. It can save or create jobs. As a platform, there are also many ways to start new businesses and innovate on top of Zumbox, which can also create jobs.

There have been a number of independent studies on the environmental impact of paper mail. But it also seems quite intuitive that the energy used to power servers is small compared to the total lifecycle (production, transportation, and disposal) of paper mail. According to our numbers, approximately 150 million trees are consumed each year for paper mail alone.

http://blog.zumbox.com/2009/02/18/ive-got-my-zumbox-now-what/

Rob Reed of CA @ Feb 18, 2009 15:50:05 PM

America thrives on entrepreneurship

If this country relied on the meek ideas of those that want to grasp on to what will inevitably be outdated in the near future (USPS), we would be absolutely nowhere.

Progress, technology and entrepreneurship is everything to our economy, particularly during a time of intense international competition.

If you want useless, money-draining, government-subsidized industries then move to another country.

J.F. Halston @ Feb 13, 2009 15:48:15 PM

replacing the usps

hundreds of thousands of jobs lost if it replaced the usps

j lo of OH @ Feb 13, 2009 15:17:43 PM

electronic mailboxes?

Until we reach the point where paper communication becomes completely unnecessary for anybody (and I'm not holding my breath on that), proposals like this only serve to drive up the cost of maintaining a universal mail network (as required by federal law as well as tradition). Using the mails is already becoming prohibitively expensive for independent periodicals which rely on subscribers for their revenue. I happen to think the survival of such publications is cruicial to our democracy.

There's also the small matter of people who aren't computer literate or can't afford fancy electronic equipment. I'd rather expend of few minutes a day recycling unwanted junk mail than blow a couple of grand I haven't got on a computer so I can communicate with the outside world.

As far as carbon footprints go...has anyone actually studied the carbon footprint of electonic communication, or the amount of energy required to maintain it? How many coal-fired power plants are operating so we can talk to each other on-line?

Finally, I prefer to pay my bills by mail because Idon't have to worry about some clever hacker breaking into the system and stealing my identity. Mail theft happens too, but unlike hacking, you know right away when it's happened and can take steps immediately to control the damage.

Peter Shapiro of OR @ Feb 13, 2009 12:51:14 PM

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Fresh Greens

Fresh Greens

Maura Judkis is a producer at U.S. News. She writes about the green movement and looks for ways to be an ecofriendly consumer without breaking the bank. Send her your green tips.

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