Neopost web-enabled stamps



Neopost web-enabled stamps or Neopostage is a postage stamp that is part of the family of computerized postage. These stamps were developed by Neopost Online and Northrop Grumman Corporation. The joint effort resulted in an innovative self-service stamp vending system. Neopost Online is a US subsidiary of Neopost Inc. Testing of this system was authorized by the United States Postal Service (USPS) in March 2001.

The self-service stamp vending system allowed consumers to:
 * 1) Touch a display screen to activate the kiosk.
 * 2) Peruse through a variety of stamp denominations and quantities for purchase.
 * 3) Select the desired purchase.
 * 4) Swipe credit card information to submit the purchase order.

The kiosk then:
 * 1) Logs on the centrally located database to get credit card authorization.
 * 2) Awaits approval of purchase from a centrally located database.
 * 3) Receives purchasing authorization information from the centrally located database..
 * 4) Prints the purchasing and stamp information onto adhesive paper (from roll or individual sheets).
 * 5) Dispenses the stamp sheets to the consumer.

The ability to peruse, request, authorize, print, and dispense a stamp purchase using the Internet made these the world's first browser-based stamps.

The Neopost web-enabled stamps are listed in Scott catalogue (Specialized Version) under Computer Vended Postage section with several unlisted varieties.