Pitney Bowes Inc., the Stamford, Conn.-based "mailstream" company, said has planned a series of events and services to help mail-reliant businesses, such as insurance companies, to handle the upcoming postal rate hike.

The firm said it was providing communications, events and online services, designed to make sure mailers make wise choices about mailstream options when new prices take effect May 12.

Full-rate first class postage for a one-ounce letter is rising from 41 cents to 42 cents, or 2.4 percent, but many business mailers can pay far less than that by taking advantage of postal discounts, Pitney Bowes said.

"While these are modest price increases by historical standards, the imperative for mailers remains the same: to review operations continually to ensure the best overall strategy for this valuable communications channel," said Leslie Abi-Karam, Pitney Bowes's executive vice president and president, mailing solutions management. "We think price changes offer a great opportunity to take a fresh look."

To support mailers who are preparing for the changes, Pitney Bowes said it has two online resources available. General information about the new rates, as well as many other topics of importance to mailers, is available at www.pbrateinfo.com.

The firm said the Web site also includes an interactive rate change calculator that helps customers understand how the new rates will affect them, and offers specific strategies to mitigate the price increases. The calculator is available through the "Identify Winning Strategies" link on the site.

Current Pitney Bowes customers who want to download the new rates to their Pitney Bowes mailing machines can go to www.pb.com/ratechange.

Pitney Bowes said it has also been reaching out to mailers through local Postal Customer Council meetings, direct mail, in-person customer calls and Web-based training sessions to help organizations prepare for the new postal rates.

As May 12 approaches, the company said its call centers and customer support representatives are prepared for online and live support for last-minute issues.

"Even during challenging economic times, mail remains one of the best ways to communicate with customers and prospects," Ms. Abi-Karam said.

Pitney Bowes aid its mailstream technology helps organizations manage the flow of information, mail, documents and packages and its 36,000 employees deliver technology and service to more than two million customers worldwide.

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Pitney Bowes Ready To Help Insurers With Postal Hike

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