Postage meter

A postage meter is a electro-mechanical device for producing evidence of postage (see mail). Postage meters are regulated by a country's postal authority; for example, in the United States, the United States Postal Service specifies the rules for the creation, support, and use of postage meters.

The postage meter was introduced in the United States in 1912 by Arthur Pitney, who in 1920 went into business with partner Walter Bowes in order to produce the machines.

Postage meters have evolved from purely mechanical devices to today's Internet-based postage dispensing services. The evolution of the postage meter is covered in the following sections.

Mechanical meters

Electtro-mechanical meters

Electronic meters

Digital meters

Internet-based meters