Tag: Europe

Swiss Post: Ultra-modern technology on a conventional stamp

Posted by | Oct 31, 2007 | |

Swiss Post is issuing the world’s first stamp with an integrated BeeTagg, combining a conventional stamp with ultra-modern technology. Swiss Post’s partner in this first tagging venture is Schweiz Tourismus, which is using the stamp and integrated BeeTagg as part of its winter advertising campaign. The mobile tagging solutions have been developed by Swiss Post subsidiary yellowworld AG.

Some time ago, a new application was developed for the mobile phone, increasing its versatility even further. The new technology is called mobile tagging and is available regardless of which service provider the user has chosen. It enables the user to establish a connection to a predefined and mobile-friendly web page via their mobile phone. The BeeTagg is a two-dimensional code that looks like a honeycomb and functions in a similar way to a bar code. The user simply installs the free BeeTagg reader, then scans the tag incorporated into the Swiss Post stamp with the camera on their mobile phone. The reader recognizes the tag and connects the phone to a predefined web page.

Similar codes have long been used in Japan, but what distinguishes the BeeTagg from these is the fact that it was developed and optimized specifically for mobile tagging. The BeeTagg does not look like a conventional technical barcode. It can incorporate logos, pictures and text. As even tiny BeeTaggs can still be read, they are particularly suitable for products with densely packed information, for example stamps, newspapers or packaging.

Mobile tagging has enormous potential and opens up new methods of marketing and communication. By incorporating BeeTaggs into adverts or billboards, companies can enter into contact with potential customers and direct them to their websites.

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TNT Post has become the preferred postal provider for councils in the North West

Posted by | Oct 31, 2007 | |

TNT Post’s North team has been appointed as the preferred postal provider by the North West Centre of Excellence, the regional, procurement efficiency and improvement partner to councils in the North West.

The contract is worth up to GBP 3.5 million and will save taxpayers an anticipated GBP 1 million. This appointment covers 17 councils in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside and could see TNT Post handling over 18 million items of mail each year. The contract award is a result of a successful competitive tender process, which included the submission of successful case histories from other public sector organisations in and around the region.

The councils, during the one year contract, will have access to TNT Post’s ‘PremierSort Flex’ and ‘AllSort’ services, which offer valuable benefits such as:

The ability to handle 100 per cent of mail, including unsorted and non machine readable
– Value for money
– Flexible pick up times
– Collaborative approach to doing business
– Locally skilled account management teams with a local focus
– Fast and reliable day definite service
– Innovative solutions to enable on-going cost reductions
– Projected GBP 1million savings in the first year of the contract

TNT Post’s team in the North has to date secured a number of significant customer wins during the first 18 months of trading and now has more than 500 customers in the area, including Liverpool FC, National Union of Teachers and a number of regional public sector bodies including Leeds University, Stockport College, Sheffield City Council and Congleton Council.

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Royal Mail embarks on modernisation

Posted by | Oct 31, 2007 | |

Royal Mail Group today announced profits, in line with expectations, of GBP 233m for the 2006-07 financial year – a fall of a third from the previous year, principally as a result of a sharp rise in pension fund costs by £193m to £722m. Underlying profits, omitting the benefit of GBP 75m from the Government’s Social Network Payment to support the loss making Post Office network showed a steeper decline, at £158m, less than half the prior year’s result.

Royal Mail said that pressures on its performance from rising pension costs, falling mail volumes and increased competition underlined the urgency with which it now needs to put the next stages of its modernisation plan into action. The Group now has in place the key elements on which that programme is built:

• Around £4bn commercial funding package from the Government to enable us to modernise the business and incentivise our people through our new ColleagueShare scheme
• Agreement with the unions on the flexibility and changes in working practices that are vital to modernise successfully
• Support from the unions for the pension reform needed to allow the Group to become competitive and to protect a Defined Benefit pension scheme for our existing employees

During the first five trading months of the current year, 2007-08, the pressures of falling mail volumes and competitor activity in the wider communications market have become significantly more pronounced, with revenue in the Royal Mail Letters business down £78m compared to the same five months in 2006-07.

Key issues for the company as we move forward are the continuing high cost of funding the pension scheme, the continuing decline in volumes as customers move to other forms of communication and the beginning of the huge investment we will now make in the modernisation of the company. All these factors combined mean that this year and next we expect to be operating at around breakeven.

The full results for the year and a current trading update are set out in the attached statement from the Chairman and Chief Executive.

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Green Post Project financed by the European Commission

Posted by | Oct 31, 2007 | |

On 31 October 2007, Poste Italiane presented in Perugia, Italy, the Green Post project carried out in cooperation with PostEurop and approved by the EC-EACI for its innovative nature and international commitment. The other European partners are:

– Magyar Posta (Hungary)
– La Poste – De Post (Belgium)
– The City of Perugia
– The University of Perugia/CIRIAF
– Legambiente
– Ducati Energia
– The University of Rousse (Bulgaria)

The programme, which is aimed at testing an electric and hybrid vehicle (the “Free Duck” Quadricycle), will be implemented during 30 months and consists in providing mail delivery service in the historical centre of the city of Perugia by means of 57 quadricycles (produced by “Ducati Energia”) with electric and hybrid traction as an alternative to the classic motorcycles currently used by postmen in Europe.

Similar initiatives are also to be developed in Brussels as well as in the historical center of Szentendre, Hungary, and PostEurop (Mr Antonino Scribellito, Project Manager) will be in charge of extending the initiative to other European operators.

Energy and environmental performances will be monitored in cooperation with the University of Perugia/CIRIAF in order to develop models aimed at the reduction of air and acoustic pollution in other urban areas.

The Universities involved (University of Perugia and University of Rousse) will share the results of the initiative which will be communicated at EU level during a final event organized under the umbrella of the European Agency.

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Jackpot Factory's All Slots Online Casino Offers Postepay to Italian Players

Posted by | Oct 31, 2007 | |

The Jackpot Factory (www.jackpotfactory.com), a leading online casino group known for first-rate customer support and a wealth of games, announced the introduction of Postepay to their list of preferred and trusted payment options to buy and withdraw casino credits for Italian players at All Slots Online Casino (http://it.allslots.com).

With more than 9 million users in Italy, Postepay is a prepaid rechargeable Visa Electron card, issued by Poste Italiane. The key to the success of this card is the simplicity of use and accessibility of purchase and funding the card in any post office in the country.

“This is a real breakthrough because it will truly enhance the overall player experience for our Italian players,” said David Brickman, Spokesperson for the Jackpot Factory. “We worked very hard to implement this new payment option for All Slots, and we are sure that Italian players are going to enjoy our efforts. This is a giant leap in making the Italian player feel confident about our online casinos.”

Since the launch of its Italian casino in May 2007, All Slots Casino has dedicated its efforts in providing Italian players with a complete Italian gaming experience, which includes 24/7 customer support, website, and casino software in Italian.

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