Archive for August, 2008

Online Fax Service - Understanding The Basics

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

Online or Internet faxing is the wave of the future.
It has already become an important communication tool
for countless companies and individuals. Businesses must
keep up with this relatively new technology or fall behind.
It’s your call!

What Is An Online Fax Service?

Online fax is simply using the Internet and your email
system to send and receive your faxes. It’s paperless,
inkless, more secure, more economical and more convenient
than the old traditional fax machine. You can access your
faxes anywhere, anytime - wherever you have the Internet
and these days that’s just about everywhere.

Just How Does An Online Fax Service Work?

First, you must sign-up for an Internet fax service
where you will receive a local or toll-free fax number.
You also get an online interface (site) where you can
view, send and receive your faxes. You can also store
your faxes online. Your faxes are sent via email as
attachments, usually in TIFF or PDF formats. Your
online fax service acts as an intermediary, you can
still send and receive faxes from traditional fax
machines but most users switch totally over to this
new way of faxing.

Who Are The Major Fax Service Providers?

There are many online fax service providers but
some of the most well-known and used services are:
MyFax, eFax, RingCentral, TrustFax, RapidFax,
Send2Fax, MetroFax and Faxage.

Do I Need An Extra Phone Line?

No, all faxing is done online and thru your email
system. You also don’t need a traditional fax machine.

What Kind Of Support Can I Expect?

Most major online fax services have 24/7 support
but not all, so check before you purchase a plan.

How Much Does Internet Fax Cost?

Prices vary, but most fax services are around
$10 a month. But you can get some services for
as low as $4 a month, or even $20 a year if your
faxing needs are very minimum.

Are There Additional Costs If I Go Over My Limit?

Yes, most plans charge around 10 cents per minute
for extra pages… some companies will offer much
less so again it pays to shop around. Please Note:
some companies quote rates in pages, others quote
in minutes… for pages it is assumed that it takes
1 minute or less to transmit your fax, however, with
large faxes it may take longer. International faxes
will usually cost more.

How Many Faxes Can I Send Or Receive?

Most online fax services offer you around
300 Combined Pages (Incoming & Outgoing)
per month. This is usually the norm, but some fax
companies offer you more so shop around.

Are Fax Services Scalable For Companies?

Yes, most online fax services cater to businesses
both big and small. Scaling up to extra accounts,
and large fax broadcasting can all be done to suit
your company’s faxing needs.

Can I Sign Up For A Trial Period?

Yes, most companies offer a 30 Day Free Trial so
your can try before you buy. Some services also offer
one month free but you only get this on your second
month into the service.

Why Should I Use Internet Fax?

Going with an online fax service does have many
advantages over traditional faxing: it’s paperless,
inkless, portable, convenient, more secure, more
economical and it’s available wherever you have the
Internet. Plus, because other companies are already
using it, they might be slightly more competitive
than yours, especially if your business deals with
the quick transmission of secure information
or documents.

It’s a very competitive world out there, you must ask
yourself - can you or your company afford not to use
an online fax service? Again, it’s your call.

For more information on Internet Fax Services use this
handy online Comparison Guide to get your own: Online Fax Service
Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing
try here: Internet Fax Services.
Titus Hoskins Copyright © 2008. This article may be freely
distributed if this resource box stays attached.