Systems and methods which provide postage indicia using mobile communication handsets are shown. According to embodiments, users are enabled to introduce mail pieces into a mail delivery stream which are accepted as having activated, value comprising postage indicia associated therewith without the use of traditional metering systems, processor-based postage generation and printing systems, or even printers. Instead, a token comprising substantially unique identification information identifying a mail piece is activated as an activated token having postage value associated therewith using mobile communication handsets, such as a smart phone, network enabled personal digital assistant, etc. according to embodiments of the invention.

Systems and methods which provide postage indicia using mobile communication handsets are shown. According to embodiments, users are enabled to introduce mail pieces into a mail delivery stream which are accepted as having activated, value comprising postage indicia associated therewith without the use of traditional metering systems, processor-based postage generation and printing systems, or even printers. Instead, a token comprising substantially unique identification information identifying a mail piece is activated as an activated token having postage value associated therewith using mobile communication handsets, such as a smart phone, network enabled personal digital assistant, etc. according to embodiments of the invention.

A system and method for mobile devices that do not have hardware interfaces to be able to control shipping peripheral devices that are not connected directly thereto are provided. Intermediary hardware devices are utilized that are connected to a local area network. A first device communicates with the user's mobile device using very-short range communication protocols. A second device has the peripheral devices directly coupled thereto, and includes preinstalled drivers and application software for the peripheral devices. The devices allow the mobile device and peripheral devices to communicate with each other over the local area network. Thus, the mobile device can be used to control the peripheral devices even though the peripheral devices are not directly connected to the mobile device.

Provided is an unmanned mail/courier management system and method which can unmannedly receive a delivery of mail or a courier item, and can unmannedly store and receive a delivered mail or courier item. The system invention provides a configuration that enables a work, which is performed for unmanned reception and storage through interworking between an unmanned reception machine and a management server through a network in the art, to be input through and processed by a user terminal, and thus, does not require construction of a network for interworking with the management server in the unmanned reception machine for implementation thereof, thereby enabling easy installation of the unmanned reception machine, and minimizing a standby time by omitting a procedure of directly inputting in the unmanned reception machine.