The Postal Service has expanded its suite of mobile applications, creating a free app for customers who have devices powered by Google’s Android operating system.

The USPS Mobile App previously was available only to customers using Apple devices. Launched in 2009 (Link, 1/4/10), the Postal Service’s mobile applications are attracting an average of more than 2 million visitors each month. The app also consistently ranks as one of the top five most-popular free business apps on iTunes. The Postal Service also offers a Web-based version of the service.

“The Android mobile operating system has the largest share of market for smartphones, even more than the Apple iPhone,” said Joe Adams, general manager, Online and Marketing Services. “The new USPS Mobile app for Android is a downloadable application just for Android-based mobile phone users that gives them instant, on-the-go access to the most popular utilities.”

Mike Goldman, manager of the IT Enabler Business Systems Portfolio, agrees. “Unlike the iPhone, the Android application is available to multiple phones supplied by different manufacturers,” he said. “We’re confident that this app will be every bit as successful as our USPS iPhone app and will attract millions of customers.”

Like the Apple version, the USPS Mobile app for Android devices lets customers check the delivery status of a shipment with Track & Confirm, find ZIP codes, use a GPS-based location service to find retail Post Offices and collection boxes, and save the addresses of postal facilities in their Android device’s address book. Still to come is a rate calculator for the Android app.

To download the app, customers can use their Android devices to go to https://market.android.com/details?id=com.usps&feature=search_result.

source: USPS News Link