Australia Post launches online letterbox

Staff Writers
news.com.au
March 26, 2012

AUSTRALIANS will soon be able to receive their letters online with Australia Post’s new digital mailbox.

The online letterbox will allow customers and businesses to receive their mail through an online portal that can be accessed 24 hours a day.

Users will be able to connect with service providers they have a relationship with – such as banks, utilities and government entities – and use the digital mail box as a personal digital vault to upload and find documents.

A spokesman for Australia Post said the biggest difference between the new digital mailbox and an email account would be the ability to view relationships with service providers on one page and the security of the account.

“The Australia Post Digital Mailbox is a total system for storage, management and payment of statements and bills – customers can log in to view bills and pay them with one click,” the spokesman said.

“It also allows users to view the history of their relationship with a service provider on one page – i.e. see all statements, bills and communications from that organisation.

“Another big difference is security. Email is not secure whereas the Australia Post Digital Mailbox provides end-to-end encryption of all communications.”

Australia Post also announced the opening of 30 superstores across the country in direct response to the 10 million Australians now shopping online, which resulted in an extra three million parcels delivered this Christmas.

“With our parcel volumes growing a staggering 13 per cent since July last year due to online shopping, our superstores are where people’s physical lives will connect with their digital lives,” said Australia Post managing director and CEO Ahmed Fahour.

The 24/7 zone will give customers round-the-clock access to post and collect parcels, pay for postage, purchase stamps and packaging products, pay bills and use an Australia Post ATM.

“With online shopping booming, Australians have told us they want to be able to collect their parcels at a time and place that suits them. Parcel locker trials at three post offices in Australia resulted in 3300 customers signing up to use them, Mr Fahour said.

“Now, we’re extending parcel lockers to a total of 10 sites, with plans for a national rollout to further expand this service.”