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Royal Mail is going greener with all-electric vans
As you can probably imagine, Royal Mail isn't the most environmentally friendly of businesses due to the sheer number of vehicles it has on the road. The logistical behemoth is getting greener by the day, however, today beginning a new trial of cute, fully electric vans from Oxfordshire-based automaker Arrival. Nine commercial trucks of varying sizes with ranges of up to 100 miles will start operating out of Royal Mail's central London depot from today, carrying parcels and post to other parts of the city and surrounding areas.
Online retailer experiments with junk mail you can't delete
Between promoted tweets, unduly specific banner ads and a never-ending onslaught of marketing emails, it's impossible to escape targeted advertising. Luckily, though, the white noise of the internet can largely be ignored or hidden by ad blockers and spam filters. But what if paper and ink letters started falling through your door, encouraging you to buy that novelty mug you showed an interest in the other day? Well, that nightmare scenario is already a reality, and could become much more prevalent if a trial between Royal Mail and an online retailer proves fruitful (as far as they are concerned, anyway). The UK postal service and an unspecified retailer are currently experimenting with targeted advertising, delivered by snail mail, based on consumers' online activity.
Forget stamps, the Post Office now offers pay-as-you-go SIMs
There's no shortage of mobile networks to choose from in the UK, but that hasn't stopped the Post Office from throwing its hat in the ring. The iconic mail service is launching a pay-as-you-go SIM that focuses specifically on cheap calls and texts. At 8 pence for almost any domestic landline or mobile, calls are significantly cheaper than the standard rates set by Vodafone, O2 and Virgin Mobile. The new "virtual" mobile network, which is powered by EE's infrastructure, is also competitive on the SMS front with a flat 10 pence rate. If you're interested in data, however, you'll probably need to look elsewhere. The Post Office charges 10 pence per MB and currently doesn't support 4G connectivity. Even if you're a light user, one of the company's 30 day bundles is almost certainly better value.
Royal Mail wants you to 3D print gifts right before you ship them
Let's say you're in a real hurry to mail gifts this holiday -- so much so that you forgot to buy those gifts before you reached the post office. Are you stuck? Not if the UK's Royal Mail has something to say about it. The organization is teaming with iMakr on a trial program that lets you 3D print goods and promptly ship them afterward. You can bring in your own creations or, if you're in a real pinch, choose from ready-made designs ranging from the stamp magnet above (£5) to a wine cooler (£45).
Human Interest: Royal Mail workers lose iPod perk
Today's Apple-related human interest story centers on employees of the UK's Royal Mail. MacWorld UK reports that their communal iPod has been confiscated by management. The iPod was provided by the Royal Mail to improve working conditions at a sorting depot in Newcastle. After one worker loaded a "rude spoof version" of "Oops, I did it again" (originally by musical maestro B. Spears[1]), the iPod was confiscated and disciplinary action launched. A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Royal Mail has an absolute policy of respect for all, and total opposition to any form of harassment." I'm pretty sure that being forced to listen to "Oops, I did it again" whether in its original or spoof version counts as musical assault but I don't quite see how it's "harassment". Here's hoping for a speedy return of the workers' iPod. [1] No Köchel catalog numbering for "Oops, I did it again" is available at this time
