Postage metering system having multiple postage meter configuration capability

A method of manufacturing a postage metering system, comprising:

• providing a base including a base micro controller, a deck and a transport for feeding a mailpiece along the deck in a path of travel;
• providing a printer assembly operatively mounted to the base, the printer including a printer control module and a print mechanism under the control of the printer control module, the print mechanism being located adjacent to the path of travel for printing on the mailpiece, the printer control module being operatively mounted to the printer assembly;
• providing a user interface operatively mounted to the base, the user interface including a user interface micro controller in operative communication with the base micro controller and the printer control module, an internal socket for receiving an integrated circuit chip and a smart card reader interface connector for interfacing with an external smart card;
• storing a postage meter configuration indicator in the user interface micro controller that controls whether the user interface microcontroller accesses postage metering functionality at either the smart card reader interface connector or the internal socket;
• adapting the internal socket so as to receive a type of integrated circuit chip processor that also serves as a processor platform for the smart card;
• and
• in a first population of postage meters, installing the integrated circuit chip processor in the internal socket so that a first combination of the user interface and the integrated circuit chip define a postage meter and the user interface micro controller ignores the smart card reader interface connector;
• and
• in a second population of postage meters, not installing the integrated circuit chip processor in the internal socket and providing the smart card so that the smart card defines the postage meter and the user interface micro controller ignores the internal socket.