Recommendations Will Transform USPS for the 21st Century

STAMFORD, Conn., July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The President's Commission on the United States Postal Service today transmitted its final report to President George W. Bush. The recommendations contained in the report encourage the U.S. Postal Service to actively partner with the private sector, and to leverage technology to increase the access, security and value of mail. Michael J. Critelli, Chairman and CEO of Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI) and chairman of the Mailing Industry CEO Council, issued the following statement in response to the recommendations contained in the report.

"The Commission's recommendations recognize and appreciate the value and viability of mail as communications tools and will help strengthen the $900 billion mailing industry. As the global leader in mailing technologies and solutions, Pitney Bowes has a history of applying technology to reduce the cost, improve the security and enhance the value of the mail stream.

"One of the most noteworthy of the Commission's recommendations concerns the role of technology in the postal system. Pitney Bowes believes that the deployment of new mailing technology will help mailers and recipients of mail interact more effectively and help the U.S. Postal Service better manage its costs.

"Today's recommendations support the use of our intelligent mail technology, which allows each mail piece to be uniquely identified and tracked through the use of data-rich, machine readable information. This next generation of mailing technology will benefit all mailers -- businesses and individuals alike -- thereby ensuring the long-term value and viability of the mail."

President Bush established the nine-member, bipartisan President's Commission on the United State Postal Service in December 2002. The Commission was charged with identifying the challenges of the Postal Service, examining solutions to these challenges, and offering recommendations to ensure the long-term viability of the Postal Service. Pitney Bowes provided testimony to the Commission in March 2003 on the benefits of new technologies to the Postal Service and its customers.

Critelli also applauded the Commission for focusing on how mail could be more effective and accessible for individual mailers, including recommendations to actively expand retail access by providing services such as package mailing at major retail stores and to offer personalized postage stamps.

"Embracing new technologies, enhancing the customer experience for individual mailers, coupled with a more active partnership with the private sector will help serve as the foundation for transforming the U.S. Postal Service for the 21st century."

PITNEY BOWES is the world's leading provider of integrated mail and document management systems, services and solutions. The $4.4 billion company helps organizations of all sizes engineer the flow of communication to reduce costs and increase impact, and enhance customer relationships. The company's 80-plus years of technological leadership has produced many major innovations in the mailing industry and more than 3,500 active patents, with applications in a variety of markets including printing, shipping, encryption, and financial services. With approximately 33,000 employees worldwide, Pitney Bowes serves more than two million businesses through direct and dealer operations.

 Dan Burris
     203-351-6477
     Daniel.burris@pb.com

     Or

     Marianne Fulgenzi
     203-351-6974
     Marianne.fulgenzi@pb.com 

SOURCE  Pitney Bowes Inc.
    -0-                             07/31/2003
    /CONTACT:  Dan Burris, +1-203-351-6477, Daniel.burris@pb.com, or Marianne
Fulgenzi, +1-203-351-6974, Marianne.fulgenzi@pb.com, both of Pitney Bowes
Inc./
    /Web site:  http://www.pitneybowes.com /
    (PBI)

CO:  Pitney Bowes Inc.
ST:  Connecticut
IN:  OFP
SU:  EXE

TS 
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6696 07/31/2003 15:12 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com