If you're one of thousands of businesses that still use analog metering technology, you’re meter will not meet upcoming USPS postal regulations.  The United States Postal Service will begin the decertification of all Phase IV meters on December 31, 2008.  This means that these postage machines will no longer accept postage resets, eventually making them inoperable.  The US Postal Service’s Phase IV decertification will complete all 4 phases of a process aimed at discontinuing mechanical postage machines. 

This is not the first time that the US Postal Service has mandated a migration of postal technology.  Phase I meters were the first to be discontinued, retiring all mechanical metering.  These meters were the first in a long evolution of postage machines.

On February, 28 2005 Phase II meters, meters that had to be reset manually and in person by US Postal Service employees, were decertified.  After Phase II decertification, Phase III postage meters took advantage of remote postage resets.  This means that the transfer of money into postage could be exchanged electronically.  Today, postage meters still use this technology.  Whitaker Brothers prefers using FP’s Teleset electronic resetting system.  This gives customers the ease one touch postage uploads. 

December 31, 2006 marked the decertification of Phase III  postage meters.  Phase III postage meters utilized rotary letterpress technology to imprint postage.  Both Phase III and Phase IV decertifications aim to eliminate mechanical printing method that was open to fraud and abuse.      

As of December 31, 2008 with the Phase IV decertification, the four phase decertification will be complete.  Similar to the Phase III decertification, Phase IV decertification aims to complete the elimination of the older print technology.  This means the all newer Phase V meters will utilize great gains in digital meters and printing.  Digital printing is more accurate, more efficient, and more secure.  New digital meters take advantage of either inkjet or thermal transfer technology to print postage on mail pieces.  For more information on the differences between thermal transfer and Inkjet printing technology please ask one of our mailing equipment specialists at 1-800-243-9226.

I like my analog meter.  Is there anyway I can still use it after the upcoming decertification?
You cannot use your analog meter after the Phase III/IV decertification.  However, you may want to still use your old postage meter for other functions such as sealing envelopes.

Why are these meters being decertified?
These postage meters are being decertified by the USPS because they are susceptible to tampering, counterfeit, and misuse.  New digital meters have been available for several years and offer a more productive alternative to the outdated letter press technology. 

What happens to the postage on my Phase IV meter?
You have three options.  First, you can request a refund of your postage through the USPS.  Second, you can continue to use this postage 90 to 109 days after your last funds reset.  Three, if you are a current customer with FP, you can transfer postage to your newly purchased meter.

How can I tell if my postage meter is analog or digital?
The easiest way to tell if your postage meter is digital is to see if a printed mail piece contains a newer IBIP indicia.  This indicia is a square barcode located on the left side of the postage mark.  If you’re still not sure, you can check your machine’s method of printing.  If your machine prints using a mechanical rotating stamp, then your postage meter is considered Phase III/IV and is approaching decertification.  If you are still unsure whether your postage meter is compliant, feel free to contact one of our mailing solution specialists.

New security features that all digital postage meter customers should be aware of. 
-If your postage meter is not reset after a specified length of time (usually 3 months) than it may become inoperable until verification through the USPS.