We recently posted that The Intelligent Mail barcode will be required by the USPS beginning in May 2011. On Jan 13, 2011 the Postmaster General made a surprise move to delay the mandatory deadline of May 2011 for implementation of the new Intelligent Mail Barcode.
The reason for the delay was justified in this statement, “Recognizing ongoing concerns about mailers’ readiness for broader adoption of the Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb®), the USPS® has decided that automation discounts for mail with POSTNET barcodes will continue to be offered beyond May 2011.”