[alanh]

I don’t understand why you can’t address physical mail to an identity and let the USPS automatically route it to a physical address. Especially during and after college, I moved so much, I’m sure mail got lost en route. It would also help with privacy. You could have “throwaway addresses” given to certain businesses, possibly, or instruct the USPS to block mail from <sender>.

[Alex3917]

"I don’t understand why you can’t address physical mail to an identity an let the USPS automatically route it to a physical address."

USPS should have transitioned toward providing digital identity services for citizens and government at least five years ago. They were perfectly positioned to do this, and yet completely missed the opportunity.

[IgorPartola]

UPS provides this: http://www.theupsstore.com/products/pages/maiandpos.aspx

You just have to pay for both storage and forwarding.

[alanh]

I’m picturing this being something everyone can do, not a very niche offering. Interesting, though.

★ Edit in response: Only some of the same problems are being solved. If the USPS let everyone choose an ID, it wouldn’t be long before websites let (US) customers enter “tcollins12” instead of “Tom Collins, 145 Main St., Somewhere, ST 12345” during checkout… it wouldn’t be long before your public wishlist said “ship it to USPS address ‘alanh’” without giving away your residence… it’s not just an alias, it’s a paradigm shift. (With the UPS offering you linked, your address still takes the form of an address.)

[IgorPartola]

Everyone can do this. You are picturing it being paid for by the tax payers instead of you directly, giving the perception of free. Then again I found their offering to be too expensive and would love to see USPS trying to compete with them.

[slillibri]

You could just use usps general delivery as a throwaway address, if necessary.