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From: Harald.Alvestrand%vax.runit.unit.uninett@NAC.NO (Harald Tveit Alvestrand)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.iso.x400
Subject: X.400 Physical Delivery Services.
Message-ID: <306*Harald.Alvestrand@vax.runit.unit.uninett>
Date: 21 Aug 89 08:58:00 GMT
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As a matter of fact, at least one physical delivery service with
electronic input is already working (in Canada; the name escapes me.
Possibly Envoypost or something.)
The main reasons for X400 access are:
- Universal connectivity of X.400: You can send one letter to everyone,
  whether or not they already have X.400. This is a very common service
  in U.S EDI systems, where a business sends all its bills by EDI, and
  an EDI third party prints the bills for non-EDI customers and mails
  them by "snail mail".
- Faster delivery than local mailing. For instance, a physical delivery
  to Sydney, Australia from Norway might be printed in a Sydney post
  office and sent locally, instead of taking umpteen days from Norway.
  The combined service might also be cheaper, but this depends totally
  on the PTT/post tariff structures......

As a manager, not a researcher, my main worry is that I cannot see any
way to get the bills paid by the right people in our current, access-
charge based environment. Research suggestions are welcome!

                                 Harald Tveit Alvestrand
                                 postmaster@vax.runit.unit.uninett