U.S. Postal Service updates its iPhone app with the ability to scan shipping labels, track packages

The U.S. Postal Service updated its iPhone application with a new feature that allows users to use the built-in camera of the iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S to scan barcodes on shipping labels for quick tracking of their packages and other mail. Moreover, the application stores the label numbers so you can easily recheck the status of your shipments.

But that’s not all. USPS’ new app also lets folks schedule a free next-day carrier pickup of their packages after which [scheduling] they’ll get an email confirmation when the request is made, when the package is picked up, and when the pickup request is modified or canceled.

Finally, there’s the new home screen as well as the option to use your built-in contacts list and quickly send packages to any of your friends.

U.S. Postal Service’s iPhone app remains a free download and you can get it from a link below. Aside from iOS, Postal Service mobile apps are also available for BlackBerry and Android.

USPS Mobile (FREE) [iTunes link]

About The Author

Dusan Belic

Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.

Maciej Radzik

All looks good except for the fact the USPS tracking is a POS not worth a penny. The updates show up 24 hours later and usually the package/letter delivery confirmation is updated 2-3 days after the package has been delivered…”Sir, your package will be delivered between today and the next three days. We suggest you stay at home to receive your package in person”

No wonder USPS has to shut down so many offices. It’s a government money wasting machine. Just outsource the damn entity and let someone else clean up the garbage that USPS became.
Jon Garrett

WTF !! US postal service diss Android users !! It amazes me how developers continue to ignore Android and the giant market share it has.
Jon Garrett

The US Postal Service does not receive government funding. the USPS funds itself. also, why would you want to outsource a vital institution and put it in private hands so the cost of mailing a letter increases 10 fold every 2yrs.
Maciej Radzik

Jon, I work with the USPS closely and see how useless this institution is. They could easily get rid of a third of the work force and be more efficient. I don’t know when was the last time you went to USPS office but if you have then I’m guessing it was a tiny office in a remote location where the postman knows everyone and everything. In Chicago it’s a disaster. The wait time is horrendous, lost mail (my personal experience) is constant. I could go on and on. The USPS doesn’t feel threatened because of the lack of competition. If FedEx or DHL decided to do the mail delivery, USPS would tremble.We need a competition.
Jon Garrett

I live in NYC and my post office is open 24/7 365 Days a year.

If there was no USPS and all mail was delivered by private corporations the cost of delivery would go through the roof. the USPS does not deliver mail for profit, a private corporation ONLY delivers packages for profits.

the price of oil goes up in the middle east and private business pass that cost on to you, the price of oil goes back down and those price hikes stay right where they are. private business discriminate against job seekers based on race, age, gender, ethnicity, religion, and even political party affiliation, with the Government, there is no such thing.

It is a felony to tamper with the mail while it is in the hands of the USPS, would it be the same if DHL is delivering your mail?

there is a reason why we have a Government run mail delivery system and a reason why we have private mail delivery. if you want to use the private sector you can but don’t deny me my choice of using the Government–whom I trust infinitely more than any corporation of any type.
Warnerhudson

This would never happen, neither company have the resources to develop and implement the door-to-door address system in one city, let alone the entire country or world.