Ms. Dean started her company with $20, with which she rented a typewriter and bought postage and directories of production companies.

Quite enough to buy postage for two letters.

These companies all buy postage from the Postal Service at face value.

(Another annoyance is that, as of early this week, the only way to buy postage for E-Stamp was by bank draft.)

Postal revenues for operations and capital expenditures come not from the Government but from individuals and organizations that buy postage.

"I used my savings to buy a computer, stationery and postage," she said.

"We'll take care of the postage," he said in a telephone call after the conference, adding that he would seek authorization to buy postage.

You're a billionaire, he barely has enough money to buy postage.

The post office is creating software to allow shippers to buy postage, make labels, order packaging and track express and priority mail shipments online.

E-Stamp customers can continue to buy postage until Dec. 31.