GPS Letter Logger promises to keep tabs on mail

It looks like the United States Postal Service is considering all its options for how it handles mail in the future, with it even go so far as to commission a GPS tracking system from TrackingTheWorld Inc. Among other things, the USPS apparently required the system to be able to report the position of a piece of mail at customizable time intervals, record down time, and interface with Google Earth, not to mention fit in a standard size envelope. From the looks of it, it appears that TrackingTheWorld managed to meet all those considerations, producing a system that's just a quarter of an inch thick and the size of a tri-folded piece of paper. What's more, the system also boasts a microSD card slot that allows for "future extended tracking missions," and it includes a slim 1100mAh battery that promises to last for 20 hours in a timed configuration, or up to two weeks in "tilt mode," which only kicks the system into gear when a tilting movement is detected. According to the company, the so-called "Letter Logger" should be ready by February of next year, although it obviously won't be available to the general public. You can always build your own mail tracking system though.

[Tom @ Apr 24th 2008 2:34PM]

I just saw the video from their website and it has a video that shows how u can use it.

http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/smallest-gps-tracker-letter-logger.html

I guess it's meant for big companies.

[Shane @ Nov 21st 2007 1:35PM]

I have a friend who works for the USPS. Some of the horror stories he has told me make me never want to send things through the USPS ever again...

How in the world does a solid PCB survive all of the folding, spindling and mutilating that can happen with automated mail handling equipment?

In addition, how would this thing get a GPS signal? I can't imagine that it would be exposed to the sky long enough to get any kind of meaningful signal for any length of time...

[Todd @ Nov 21st 2007 1:38PM]

( Query result for my letter )"...your letter spent the previous nine days sitting motionless in a bin at the Dallas USPS processing facility. As of 9:00 AM this morning it is in a delivery truck that is currently park outside of Jeb's Guns and Ammo Emporium. Click here to see advertised specials for 9mm bullets bought in quantities of 10,000 or more..."

[Rob Fleming @ Nov 21st 2007 1:39PM]

nice if we could send some of these over to the ex-prince of Zimbabwe who has a bank account worth 600 million dollars, and only needs $350 to get access to it.

[seoultrain @ Nov 21st 2007 1:46PM]

Shhh... Didn't you read the email? That bank account is supposed to be confidential. Jeez, you're gonna ruin it for all of us.

[fistpittingnork @ Nov 21st 2007 1:44PM]

Does this mean the cost of stamps will go from $.41 to $410?

[paul34 @ Nov 21st 2007 2:10PM]

Exactly my concern. If they're already losing money with even the current crazy rates, how do they expect to be able to afford this? Multiple rate increases and more money requests from the Feds?

[morcheeba @ Nov 21st 2007 6:29PM]

paul34: the USPS phased out federal funds from 1972-82 & is now self-funded. So, now it's bulk mailers (not taxpayers) that subsidize your letters. If you take in to account inflation, rates have remained about the same for the last 30 years. More info here: http://www.nalc.org/postal/perform/selfsufficient.html

[Ray-- @ Nov 21st 2007 1:59PM]

i'd like to put one of these trackers in my rebate envolope and see if they really did get it!

[Mark Galvan @ Nov 21st 2007 2:11PM]

You can. Ask for the 'Return Receipt' (green card) feature.

[fistpittingnork @ Nov 21st 2007 2:25PM]

That's old news, Mark. We're looking at an age where even our mail has expandable memory slots.

"Moon Pie? What a time to be alive."

[PaulChristenson @ Nov 21st 2007 2:58PM]

This is got to be the stupidest idea to come along in a long time...Homeland Security is afraid of bombs going thru the mail...the first time one of these letter trackers goes thru a distribution center the bells will go off and the bomb squad will blow the device up...

[Eldiablo @ Nov 21st 2007 3:18PM]

God damn, if only the British HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs - like the IRS) had some of those, perhaps they'd of not misplaced some data.

[eurobloke @ Nov 21st 2007 4:23PM]

This is just an ideal assistant to the registered delivery service. You can find out where it is and where is going to the right place.

I would agree with you on the HMRC CD scandal.

[GhostDoggy @ Nov 21st 2007 6:02PM]

Summer 2006 I tried to send a piece of mail via overnight shipping. This was important. The clerk tried several times to convince me to go with priority mail and save some money, even though I stated money wasn't an object. Well, I finally stopped debating the issue and let it go priority from one side of Atlanta, Georgia to the other side of Atlanta, Georgia.

Three weeks later I gave up and the person who was receiving the mail decided to drive to me to get what I was trying to send him. A week later, after four f-ing weeks, he get's the priority letter. Now, had it gone regular mail it would not have taken four weeks. Had I stuck to my guns and went with over night it would not have taken four weeks.

Lesson learned is that you never listen to the suggestions of a postal clerk. And when i tried to follow-up after the second week all I got was a big f-off. Thank you, USPS.

[TIMMAH! @ Nov 21st 2007 6:20PM]

I guess as long as it doesn't make ticking sounds it'll be okay...

[waterlooman @ Nov 27th 2007 10:18PM]

morcheeba: You have it the wrong way, it is the consumer (that pays first class) that subsidize the bulk mailers. USPS loses money because it gives under-cut pricing to bulk mailers that can't cover the cost to process their mail. So they raise the first class rates to the average consumer.