USPS to deliver e-mail on paper

The U.S. Postal Service soon will test a new system that will take customers'

electronic documents, forward them to a printer and put them in the traditional

mailstream for delivery.

The Postal Service plans to begin a three-year test of the Mailing Online

program on Sept. 1.

Customers can upload an electronic document, such as a club newsletter,

church bulletin, or flier, along with a mailing list of up to 5,000 recipients.

The Postal Service then will securely forward the file to a printer near

the intended destination of the mailing and then deposit the finished product

into the mailstream.

Mailing Online is designed for customers who want to mail a few dozen

to a few thousand pieces at a time.