Stampit

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Stampit

Stampit Logo.svg
Basic data

developer German Post AG
Current  version Home: 3.3
Business: 4.3
operating system Microsoft Windows 2000 (from SP 4), XP and Vista
License End User License Agreement ( Closed Source )
German speaking Yes

Stampit ( spelling : STAMPIT ) was franking software from Deutsche Post AG that was on the market from September 2001 to September 2011 . This could (mainly on PCs with the operating system Microsoft - Windows ) a franking mark for mailings generated via the Internet and printed out on a standard inkjet or laser printer.

The postage mark consisted of a 32 × 32 data matrix code (2-D barcode ). This contained data on the product, the postage account (so-called serial number for each registered user), elements of the recipient address (first 3 and last 3 digits of the address and the postcode) as well as a unique sequential number. This information was used to prevent copying.

The system consisted of the Postage Point, which manages the postage accounts, a Stampit server, which operated the application interfaces, and the Stampit client software that was installed at the customer's premises. Other software providers were able to obtain the system's interfaces after signing a non-disclosure agreement from Deutsche Post. The integration of the PC franking software Stampit in industry solutions has not been possible since September 2010.

Versions

Stampit Home and Stampit Business have not been offered since 2011 and purchased licenses lost their validity on September 30, 2011.

Successor products:

  • E-Porto Add-In free plug-in for Office 2003-2010 and XP / Vista / 7 (as of December 2010)
  • Internet brand

Old versions

  • Stampit Home as software for private users and smaller companies, self-employed, freelancers at a price of € 9.50 (was terminated for users on September 30, 2011)
  • Stampit Business as software for small and medium-sized companies at a price of € 83.50 (was canceled for users on September 30, 2011)
  • Stampit Web as a pure browser-based online version, which was made available free of charge after registration (was switched off on December 31, 2009 and replaced by an internet brand)

use

Stampit franking mark with address and sender details as well as serial number, postage amount, date and data matrix

After installing the software on the PC, the customer first had to log in and received an individual postage account. The postage was purchased using the Stampit software and stored as credit in a specially secured postage account ( postage account) on the Internet. The loaded postage was paid by direct debit. When creating the franking, information about the shipment, e.g. B. Parts of the address and the amount of postage paid are converted into a machine-readable DataMatrix code. If the "postage print" was valid, the value of the individual "stamp" was deducted from the credit in the postage box - if the credit was used up, the postage box had to be reloaded.

Individual design options existed only with "Stampit Business" in the form of your own logo and advertising text.

With the "Stampit Home" and "Stampit Business" franking software, addresses from various applications, such as B. Microsoft Excel or Access can be taken over, there was also an office plug-in for printing the postage indicium. This allowed frankings and a. can also be inserted directly into applications such as Microsoft Word or StarOffice Writer and addressed and franked as documents in one step. Stampit was very suitable for franking letters and parcel stamps in series. It could e.g. B. can also be used via the mail merge function in the office solutions with Stampit.

Stampit Web was developed in cooperation with Adobe Systems and integrated into the eBay auction platform as an initial basic function . Some time later, "Stampit Web for Everyone" came onto the market, with this product all operations were carried out in the web browser . Adobe Reader software and a defined web browser were required to use “Stampit Web” .

All common letter and parcel products could be franked with Stampit. White normal paper could be used for printing, and direct printing on envelopes of all common formats was also possible. Furthermore, printable adhesive labels from many manufacturers were supported.

Frankings without a recipient address could not be created (as elements of the recipient address were contained in the matrix code), but the sender was not specified. In addition, when creating the franking, a "dispatch date" was always set on which the mailing was to be posted. The dispatch date could be chosen freely over a period of 30 days in the future, but had to be taken into account when posting.

Stampit was very suitable for sending goods and books in transparent plastic film (welded to fit) because the postage stamp could be scanned through the film. This enabled the packaging size to be varied to match the shipment.

Parcels and parcels can also be franked with DHL online franking , which, unlike Stampit, does not require registration.

On September 30, 2011, Deutsche Post canceled all Stampit Home and Stampit Business licenses that have not been available since then. The free and software-independent “Internet brand” and the “E-Postage” add-in for Microsoft Office are offered as alternatives. The service was finally discontinued on October 7, 2011, and franking using the software has no longer been possible since then.

criticism

Critics criticized the high level of user dependency on Swiss Post's services, particularly due to the postage account that can only be accessed with Internet access.

Another subject of criticism was incorrect postage. If a postage indicium was printed out but should not be used (e.g. because the address was incorrect), it could be submitted together with a refund form. The postage indicium was then credited to the postage account if the item was not sent. If there were malfunctions during the printing process (paper jam, defective printhead, etc.), the Stampit Web user had to contact customer service. The versions Stampit Home (from v3.2) and Stampit Business allow online postage reimbursement, regardless of whether the printout was successful or not; reimbursement was only possible on the same day.

Users also criticized the incomplete range of postage: For example, with some postage rates it was not possible to combine additional services (e.g. parcel stamps) or special products could not be franked to the cent (e.g. Postident Special) because there was no free choice of postage.

Support of the packing station and the parcel box

Parcels franked with Stampit could be delivered to a DHL Packstation or dropped into a parcel box . Parcels franked by Stampit had a 2D barcode that the packing station could not read, but these parcels could be dropped into the parcel box.

history

Stampit Web was an earlier (first free) version of Stampit and could initially only in conjunction with the web browser Internet Explorer company Microsoft are used. As of June 2006, selected versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer or the Firefox web browser from the Mozilla Foundation were supported. Other prerequisites were the installation of selected Adobe Reader or Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X operating system versions. Stampit Web could not be used when using alternative web browsers, PDF viewers or operating systems.

See also

literature

  • Jürgen Olschimke: News from CeBIT 2001 The franking from the computer , stamp mirror , page 8, May 2001

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ System requirements
  2. ↑ Stampit canceled on heise online , October 7, 2011
  3. ↑ Postage stamp printing also via Firefox

Web links