From Zip to Zap

When it absolutely, positively has to be there, overnight delivery may not be soon enough. So Federal Express, which pioneered next-day private postal service, is now promising even greater speed. Last week the Memphis-based company launched ZapMail, its long-awaited version of electronic mail. For as little as $25 for a missive of five pages or less and up to $50 for a maximum of 20 pages, Federal Express will zap letters and documents across the U.S. within two hours.

Although electronic epistles have so far shown more promise than popularity, Federal Express hopes its entry will be a hit. Unlike services offered by rivals such as Western Union and MCI, ZapMail will not require customers to use computer keyboards to send messages. Instead, couriers will pick up and rush material to a Federal Express office, where clerks will feed it into a document scanner for transmission over land lines. At the receiving Federal Express office, a laser printer will spew out copies for couriers to deliver immediately. The firm even vows to give full refunds if documents are late.