New INtouch Mail Service
*EDIT: THIS SERVICE IS NO LONGER IN USE – WITHDRAWN IN MARCH 2021. For up to date information visit this page. *
Defence Minister Mark Lancaster has announced a new mailing system to replace the e-bluey for friends and family to send letters to personnel serving around the world. The new contract with Neopost will mean Britain’s Armed Forces will continue to receive hard copy, secure mail, including photos, from their loved ones, for free and with no break in service as the new imail INtouch system takes over from the e-bluey on 1 April 2017.
The new imail INtouch system will allow users to send up to eight pages, including high definition photographs and official documents. The old e-bluey system that is being replaced only allowed single pages to be sent and did not support high definition photographs. Use of the e-bluey has dropped by 98% since 2007, with the same fixed cost, meaning it no longer provided value for money for the taxpayer.
Anna Wright, Director of the Naval Families Federation said:
“With 55% of all deployed Armed Forces personnel being from the Naval Service, the provision of the new imail system is really important for our families. We’d really like to hear from serving people and their families about how they find this new service and we encourage them to get in touch with us”.
Defence Minister Mark Lancaster said:
“We are investing in a better mail service to make sure our Armed Forces can stay in touch with their loved ones for free when they are away from home. Along with improved internet connections and global post deliveries, imail means families can now send longer messages and share higher quality photos than before with personnel serving around the world.”
The MOD’s new contract with Neopost will reflect actual usage and offer around half a million pounds worth of savings, which will be reinvested into welfare services like improved internet and Wi-Fi provision around the world. By offering both secure internet calls, emails, a letter and parcel service, as well as the imail INtouch service, we have ensured that our personnel have a range of ways of keeping in touch with their loved ones while they are deployed.
Posted on: 28th March, 2017
