United States Postal Service Web API

Filed in archive Web Services on January 8, 2006

Every once and a while I'll run across something that gives me confidence that people "get it." In the 90's the Internet was just starting to catch on and I had one of those moments. Then I was wondering how big this whole Internet thing could get and I saw a billboard that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority had put up. They were advertising the fact that their new web site www.mbta.com was launched. At that moment it clicked with me that the Internet was going to change the way we lived. That was a long time ago but today I ran across something, which although was not as profound as that, makes me think we are moving in the right direction again.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has released an extensive Web API. On their webtools site they have an extensive list of services available for developers. The list includes:

Address Information APIs

Delivery Information APIs

Rate Calculators APIs

Shipping Labels APIs

Carrier Pickup APIs

This looks very interesting to me. I know that there are services out there that already offer some of these types of services. However, the fact the USPS is offering this now somehow makes me think the cat is completely out of the bag with Web 2.0. I mean if a big lumbering institution like the USPS "gets it" than everyone else should as well... I would hope so at least. This once again gives me confidence that those of us working in the IT industry will have lots of opportunities in the next few years.

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Rating: 7.33 out of 3 vote(s) cast.

Response from: Chris (01/08/06 11:33am)

I think this is a good post that you made, but just wanted to point out that the USPS probably doesn't think that much about Web 2.0 (as the term inherently applies) because I think those API's have been around for a year or so. I agree it's surprising that they had an API like this (and if I'm correctly, for quite a while).

Response from: Jason (01/08/06 3:44pm)

The term "Web 2.0" is a funny thing. I guess the definition is different for different people. So much so that I�m probably going to stop using the term going forward unless I�m sure the audience I�m talking to is on the same page with me. You've forced me to go read the Wikipedia entry for it once again. I'm mean I know what I think it means. It is just everyone else in the world who may have a different opinion. ;-) After having done so I stand by my entry and someone within the organization does �think that much about Web 2.0.� I think that since the USPS is offering a Web Service API they get it.

As far as the API being around for a while I have no idea how long it has been out there. I just ran across it and thought I'd write an entry about it.