A segment
Designation for postage meter segment comprising customers with low mail volume. (less than 200 letters per day)
 
Batch communications
Non-standardized daily mail collected centrally
 
B segment
Designation for postage meter segment comprising customers with medium mail volume. (200 to 2,000 letters per day)
 
Certification
Operating permit for postage meters
 
Consolidation
Refers to the pre-sorting of letters by postal code prior to delivery to the mail distribution center in return for a postage discount.
 
C segment
Designation for postage meter segment comprising customers with high mail volume. (over 2,000 letters per day)
 
Custom tag
Customizable imprint next to postage such as sender company logo.
 
Decertification
Revocation of postage meter certification by the responsible postal authority in connection with changes in technical specifications affecting the machines. Distinction is made between ‘hard’ (the decertification extending to machines already on the market) and ‘soft’ (decertification affecting only specifications for new machines, consequently allowing older machines on the market to remain in use).
 
DPAG
The former German state monopoly Deutsche Post AG.
 
FRANKIT®
Digital franking/postage metering process implemented by Deutsche Post AG in Germany now mandatory for the approval of new postage meters since April 1, 2006 in response to heightened security requirements.
 
Hybrid e-mail
General term for solutions by means of which outgoing letters are first digitally transmitted before printing, inserting and franking for delivery in ready-made, physical form to a mail distribution center.
 
Installed base
The number of postage meters installed with customers.
 
Mailroom
Corporate department responsible for company mail services.
 
Mailstream
Term encompassing mail processing and transport.
 
NetSet
Innovative program introduced by the Dutch Postal Service in connection with increased security requirements for postage meters.
 
Outsourcing
The contracting out of production or other services to external providers.
 
Postage printing
A postage option of particular interest in a bulk delivery setting by which an in-house company computer system determines the required amount of postage based on the relevant parameters, allowing automatic print-out of a valid postage along with address data in a single process.
 
Recurring communications
Standardized letters to customers and business partners sent out on a recurring. basis (e.g. invoices)
 
STAMPIT
Internet-based postage tool provided by Deutsche Post AG geared mainly towards low mail volume customers.
 
Teleporto
Service allowing the remote loading of postage meters via phone or modem.
 
UPU
Weltpostverein, Bern (Union postale universelle/Universal Postal Union).
 
USPS
U.S. Postal Service.