What Does Apple’s New iPad Mean for the Postal Service?
Filed under Strategy & Public Policy
Tags: catalogs, media, news, technology
Courtesy of Apple
Last August, Pushing the Envelope ran a topic on e-readers — devices designed for portable book reading. Two weeks ago, Apple unveiled the iPad. The iPad offers multiple functionality including the ability to read books, surf the Internet, and use computer applications. Unlike most e-readers, the iPad does not have virtual ink technology, which is intended to mimic paper and make reading more pleasant, but it has one key difference from other widely-used e readers — a color display.
Loading ...Newspapers and magazines have particularly expressed interest in a portable device that would electronically display their content in color. They hope to sell electronic versions of their traditional product — stories and advertisements that are easy to read anywhere. Is the iPad the answer? Will magazines and newspapers migrate to color devices like the iPad?
What about catalogs? If people can easily read, view, and order items from a computer tablet on their couch, will retailers start sending digital catalogs? Or is the immediacy of receiving a physical paper catalog irreplaceable?
What do you think?
This topic is hosted by the OIG’s Risk Analysis Research Center (RARC).
14 Responses to “What Does Apple’s New iPad Mean for the Postal Service?”
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June 29th, 2010 at 3:42 am
If the postal service wants to remain relevant they need to offer new digital services that the masses will accept. Post card apps, apps to send pictures to family. They need to innovate. Just my option.
April 9th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
The survey misses the target. Stores (not just catalogs) on netbooks, laptops, desktops, cellphones and tablets offer immediacy, enrichment and minimal delivery cost that appeals to both consumers and sellers.
Who among us hasn’t purchased something from Amazon, Tigerdirect, Walmart, Macys, Newegg, etc?
Meanwhile, the USPS stands athwart a world where every merchant fights to reduce prices and improve customer experience, roaring, “You will pay my price and you will do it my way, or else.”
Something’s gotta give… and it already has.
April 6th, 2010 at 10:30 am
Please explain the market. And, I might add several
impediments, in the form of identified verbs….
offer- in a service scenario, usually a proposal with associated terms related to a target subject. With
intents to generate an action. In the USPS world,
the customer has come to expect this at no cost.
collect- This is a periodic action, representing a
required number of additional actions to successfully execute. Assuming you are referring to the plethora of Ole’ Blue boxes, conveniently “re-populated” located throughout the USPS global geographic footprint. But, they may already be highspeed rail track by now, so what to do….
scan- I believe in the postal world, this operation
might be technically impossible. However, there do
exist some complex tsa technologies capable of successfully negotiating the process. But, I’m afraid they my exceed the aptitude skills of much of the current compliment. (based on my most recent audit experience at a P&DC)
deliver- The last action required which consumes the
largest financial and least sustainable impact on
the offer. There are a number of compelling reasons why this action word is systematically dismantling
the USPS’s existing model. Transportation is the
life blood of the USPS. Without which, the core components of the revenue yields under the USPS cannot
be sustained. I’m not certain, but I do believe the USPS is unwilling to surrender this segment of their
business to the telecommunications and broadband providers. Unless of course new carbon cap and trade force them to “green up”!!! Then, they may have no choice but to merge.
April 5th, 2010 at 8:21 am
The iPad is an ideal means for the mobile person to receive their mail. The USPS should offer a service whereby they would collect PO Box Mail, scan it and deliver image mail to the iPad – a “killer app”!!