The meter is the critical part of your postage equipment. It prints the indicia - the mark that takes the place of a stamp - and stores the postage.

It is important to note that meters cannot be purchased. Under federal regulations, they can only be leased. Other parts of postage equipment can be purchased, but ownership of the meter itself is strictly controlled.

All meters share the same basic features and can hold up to $1,000 in postage. All can send first class, priority, and express mail, as well as packages.

They can also be used for discounted bulk mailings, but you will need to apply to the United States Postal Service (USPS) for a permit.

Beyond the basic features, meters begin to differ according to various options that concern security and ease of use:

• Password-protected access
• Accounting codes
• Automatic postage reset
• Automatic date advance
• Saved presets for common mailing jobs

Digital meters provide additional security by printing a two dimensional barcode that identifies the sender as well as the destination. Many digital meters can also be updated electronically, allowing them to stay current when the USPS changes its postage rates. Traditional meters require an expensive chip upgrade when new postage rates are introduced.