Seiko Instruments USA Inc. and E-Stamp Corporation Team to Deliver Complete Postage Solution to Small and Home-Based Businesses Nov. 22, - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Nov 29, 1999

Seiko Instruments USA Inc. and E-Stamp Corporation, the first company to begin selling Internet postage commercially, Monday announced a joint sales, marketing and distribution agreement. Seiko Instruments' Smart Label Printers will be bundled with the E-Stamp Internet postage service, offering millions of small businesses the ability to buy and print postage directly from their computers.

"This alliance is another compelling reason for small business and home office customers to make our Smart Label Printers a standard part of their computer configuration," said Mike DelVecchio, director of sales and marketing for Seiko Instruments' Business and Home/Office Division. "With E-Stamp and our Smart Label Printers we are bringing Internet postage directly to computer desktops everywhere -- together we are providing a complete office solution that will further simplify and automate the handling of routine and specialized mailing operations."

E-Stamp plans to significantly extend its reach into the small office/home office (SOHO) market by expanding its service to Seiko Instruments' large customer base through distribution in retail outlets including major office supply and computer store chains.

Seiko Instruments was the first company to introduce one-at-a-time label printers and currently has more than one million Smart Label Printer users around the world. The combination of Seiko Instruments' Smart Label Printers and the E-Stamp Internet postage service allows users to quickly and easily print postage directly from their PC's without having a persistent Internet connection.

"Through our relationship with Seiko Instruments, we will continue to provide SOHO customers with a quick and convenient way to mail their letters and packages," said Robert (Bo) H. Ewald, president and chief operating officer at E-Stamp Corporation. "E-Stamp Internet postage, in combination with the Seiko Instruments Smart Label Printers, now offers the electronic equivalent of a never-empty postage stamp dispenser on the desk of everyone who has ever wished for one."

Seiko Instruments recently introduced the Smart Label Printer 200, which combines the ability to print labels up to 2 inches wide with built-in USB and serial connectivity. The Smart Label Printer 200 is the entry level digital postage model and is available at a street price of $199. The high speed Smart Label Printer 220 also supports labels up to 2 inches wide, is available with built-in serial connectivity and an optional USB adapter, and is targeted for higher-volume users at a street price of $249.

The Smart Label Printer 200 and Smart Label Printer 220, in combination with Seiko Instruments electronic postage Smart Labels and the E-Stamp Internet postage service, have been tested and found to be in compliance with U.S. Postal Service's PC postage requirements. Both Smart Label Printers are available now, and may be purchased from Seiko Instruments' channel partners including computer superstores, office superstores, mail order catalogs, computer resellers, and value-added resellers (VARs) across the country.

The Business and Home/Office Division of Seiko Instruments USA develops and markets its SmartTools line of innovative, compact peripherals to users of personal computing and communicating systems -- products that solve routine problems not conveniently addressed by standard peripherals. Seiko Instruments is one of three worldwide Seiko group companies.

In addition to specialty label printers, Seiko Instruments also manufacturers high-end color printers, consumer electronic data reference products, thermal printers and mechanisms, electronic components, and factory automation/robotics systems. Seiko Instruments USA is located at 1130 Ringwood Court, San Jose, CA 95131, 408/922-5800, fax 408/433-3261. Website: www.seikosmart.com.

We provide an easy-to-use Internet postage service that enables customers to purchase, download and print postage directly from their personal computer. The purchased postage can be printed onto envelopes, labels or documents using standard laser or inkjet printers, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without the need to remain connected to the Internet.

We received approval from the U.S. Postal Service in August 1999 for our Internet postage service, and since then have been providing our service nationally. Our Internet postage service is targeted at small business, small office and home office users, collectively known as SOHO users, most of whom usually connect on modems at speeds of 28.8 or 33.6 kilobytes per second and share lines with telephones or fax machines.

We have established strategic relationships with industry leaders including Microsoft, Yahoo!, Intuit, Compaq, Excite@Home, America Online, Francotyp-Postalia and Avery Dennison. FMI: www.e-stamp.com.