Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Pitney Bowes Inc. and its subsidiaries (PBI, the company, we, us, and our) is a global provider of software, hardware and services that enables both physical and digital communications and that integrates those physical and digital communications channels. We offer a full suite of equipment, supplies, software, services and solutions for managing and integrating physical and digital communication channels. We conduct our business activities in seven reporting segments within two business groups: Small & Medium Business Solutions and Enterprise Business Solutions. See Note 12 for information regarding our reportable segments.

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and the instructions to Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In addition, the December 31, 2011 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. In management's opinion, all adjustments, including normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary to present fairly our financial position at March 31, 2012, and the results of operations and cash flows for the three months endedMarch 31, 2012 and 2011 have been included. Operating results for the three months endedMarch 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or the year ending December 31, 2012.

These statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report to Stockholders on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (the 2011 Annual Report). Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.