Prior to the first third of the sixteenth century messages were delivered as the need arose by envoys in the service of the crown or of institutions such as towns, guilds and schools. When the state postal service was introduced, with its regular exchange of horses, fixed relay stations and tariffs, it initially served the monarch, and only then the privileged classes and, eventually, the public at large. The advance of science and technology that began in the 18.th century brought progressive improvement in systems of delivery, with the coach giving way to the motor vehicle, the train, the telegraph, and the telephone. To the delivery of letters and packages were added new services such as distribution of printed matter and money transfers. The postal network expanded, the methods of delivery increased and now include, for example, cycle and motorcycle couriers. In Slovakia the development of the postal service owes much to the Taxis and Páar families. It was initially run from Vienna, but with the advancing Turkish threat administration was transferred from there and Budín to Bratislava, where it remained for three hundred years. During the existence of Czechoslovakia headquarters were in Prague and Bratislava, the latter being the sole centre during the period of the first Slovak Republic. The state-owned company Slovenska pošta, š.p. (Slovak Post) came into existence on January 1st, 1993 and since March 1st, 1996 has had its headquarters in Banska Bystrica.