National Etailing and Mailing Organization of America
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PRC Approves Mobile Barcode Promotion


03/26/12

PRC Approves Mobile Barcode Promotion

The 2012 Mobile Commerce and Personalization Promotion July 1st - August 31st, 2012, with registration beginning May 1.

USPS will provide registered business mailers with an upfront 2% postage discount on Standard Mail and First-Class Mail Letters, Flats, and Cards (Presort and Automation only) that include a two-dimensional (2-D) barcode or print/mobile technology that can be read or scanned by a mobile device.
 
Program Highlights - 
 
Program Parameters
 
Registration Begins:   May 1, 2012
 
Program Period:           July 1 through August 31, 2012
 
Discount Amount:        2% of eligible postage
 
Eligible Mail Classes:   Standard Mail Letters and Flats
 
                                           Nonprofit Standard Mail Letters and Flats
 
                                           First-Class Mail  Presort and Automation Letters, Cards and Flats 
 
Registration Requirements
 
Program Registration: Registration opens May 1, 2012 and will continue throughout the promotion period
 
 
- Participants must register on the Business Customer Gateway
 
- Participants agree to participate in a survey about the promotion
 
Mailing Submission Requirements
 
IMB Requirements: 
 
Automation mailpieces must contain an Intelligent Mail Barcode
 
Postage Payment Method:
 
Postage must be paid using a Permit Imprint, or Precancelled Stamp permit.  Some Meter Permit mailings may qualify
 
Mailpiece/Mailing Content Requirements
 
The proposed promotion will specify that the barcode or similar technology must lead the recipient to either:
 
1. A webpage that allows the recipient to purchase a product or service on a mobile device
 
or
 
2. A personalized URL, which leads to a mobile enabled web page that is unique to an individual recipient
 
All qualifying mail must contain a mobile barcode or equivalent technology that can read or scanned by a mobile device (this includes two-dimensional barcodes, tags, and watermarks).
 
The mailpiece must also contain text near the barcode or image providing guidance to the consumer to scan the barcode or image.
 
Requirements at the time of mail acceptance 
 
At Mail Acceptance:
The mailer must provide a hard copy, unaddressed sample of the mailpiece showing the placement of the mobile barcode to the acceptance clerk. If mobile personalization is used, at least two samples must be submitted in order to demonstrate that the web addresses are unique to each recipient.
 
 
 


Published: 03/26/12