The US Postal Service has already begun to notice a decrease in mail volume largely due to new technology such as fax machines, the Internet, and other electronic means for delivering messages. Small companies without big budgets have turned to these mediums for mass-mailing advertisements. In addition, third-party mail delivery companies such as UPS and FedEx have begun to take a large share of the parcel delivery market.

In order to assure its foothold in the communications market in coming years and place it a step ahead of competitors, the USPS is currently experimenting with several Internet-based services.  One such service would assign every single American an e-mail address based on their initials, ZIP Code, and street address.  With this service, a person could be notified electronically whenever they have an incoming bill or package.

Another new service which is still in the testing stages is an e-mail-to-paper system.  Using this service, a person could send an e-mail to the post office, have it printed out and delivered first class.  Several services like this already exist on the Internet.

All of the new services proposed by the USPS are intended to increase the availability and flexibility of the postal system to better fit each customer's individual needs.  Although these services mark a positive change for the postal service, its future - and the future of the postal services around the world - remains uncertain.