Downloadable digital rate calculating scale

A downloadable parcel weighing and postage calculating device comprising:

• a housing including a scale having a platform for receiving a parcel, the scale configured to provide an electronic signal indicative of the weight of the parcel;
• a communication port in the housing for receiving current rate data;
• and,
• a rate calculating circuit in the housing electronically coupled to the scale and to the communication port, the rate calculating circuit configured to receive the electronic signal indicative of the weight of the parcel and the current rate data, and calculate a first postage amount for the parcel.

A method for calculating postage amount comprising the steps of:

• providing a scale for weighing an article;
• weighing the article using the scale to generate weight data for the article;
• downloading rate information to the scale from a source of information remote from the scale;
• calculating a first amount of postage for the article based on at least a first portion of the rate information received by the scale and the weight data;
• and,
• displaying the calculated postage amount for the article.

A method for determining a postage amount for an item comprising the steps of:

• providing a device for weighing and determining a postage amount for an item placed on the device;
• generating a signal in the device indicative of a weight of an item placed on the device;
• downloading to the device a signal containing postage rate data for a plurality of carriers;
• generating a signal in the device selecting a first carrier from the plurality of carriers;
• and,
• calculating a postage amount in the device for the item based on the weight signal and postage rate data for the selected first carrier.

A downloadable device for calculating a postage amount for an item comprising:

• means for generating a signal indicative of a weight of an item;
• means for obtaining postage rate information for a plurality of carriers;
• means for selecting a carrier from the plurality of carriers;
• and,
• means for calculating a postage amount for mailing the item using a selected carrier.