SAN FRANCISCO — A newly granted patent gives a peek into Amazon's vision of how drones with its Prime Air service could deliver packages across large areas. Its design sounds a lot like the 19th century Pony Express — except, of course, it's airborne.

SAN FRANCISCO — Someday, the dusty back shelves of America's warehouses could be replaced by UPS and SAP-enabled 3-D printing.

Amazon.com Inc. has received its Chinese shipping license, signaling the massive retailer is further along with its plans to become a transnational fulfillment and shipping company than previously realized.

Rates for Priority Mail packages shipped via the U.S. Postal Service will go up on average 9.8% on Jan. 17, a move that comes at the same time that private delivery services are also raising rates.