Archive for the 'Internet Fax' Category

Internet Fax vs The Fax Machine - Who Will Win?

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Whether you’re aware of it or not, there is a quiet battle currently raging in the business world. This battle is over which kind of faxing your company uses, pitting Internet fax against the traditional fax machine. Who wins this quiet conflict will have serious implications and ramifications for how business is done around the world.

Actually, this conflict is basically pitting a traditional business practice against modernization of the workplace. Internet fax is simply using your computer, your email system and the Internet to send and receive all your faxes. Online fax brings your faxing into our modern computer/web obsessed world; whereas using the traditional fax machine in the office is strictly “old school” and how faxing was done in the past.

Stop, not so fast, that old fax machine is not completely dead yet. Far from it, but the writing is on the wall because this new modern way of faxing will continue to grow in importance and acceptance in the workplace. However, just like the advent of Television didn’t totally kill radio, it did make the latter much less important. The same thing will probably happen with online fax and the fax machine.

There are countless reasons why Internet Fax is growing in acceptance with workers and individuals alike. First and foremost, online faxing is completely mobile which makes any portable device such as a cell phone, PDA, or laptop a virtual fax machine; one that’s available anywhere, anytime - as long as you have Internet access.

In addition, online faxing is much cheaper than the traditional fax machine, especially when you consider there are no start-up costs since you don’t need to purchase a fax machine or put in an extra fax phone line. Then you also don’t have the ongoing costs of papers, inks, toners or even fax machine maintenance costs for that matter.

Plus, no more missed faxes because of paper jams or busy signals. No more messy inks or late night trips back to the office to retrieve that all important fax. And when you consider you can also send a fax to multiple recipients at the same time or simultaneously; it’s no wonder why Internet fax has become so popular.

In order to use online or email fax, you first have to sign-up to an Internet fax service provider where you will be given a local or toll-free fax number. Your faxes are sent as email attachments, usually as a Tiff or Pdf but there are countless other file formats you can use, but check with your fax providers to see which ones are ok for you to use. You are also given access to your own online account or interface where you can check and send your faxes.

One of the main reasons why Internet fax may just win the fax battle has to do with the nature of competition in the business world. Having a fax service that’s available 24/7 means your company is open for business around the clock. In our competitive “dog-eat-dog” business environment a company needs every advantage that it can get, especially if faxing plays an important role in making sales or communicating with clients. Internet fax marries all your faxing to computers and the world wide web.

In conclusion, many companies are switching over to this new modern way of faxing and enjoying the full benefits of using an online fax service. Those numbers are increasing each day as more businesses and individuals are choosing a similar route. However, just like cell phones have not replaced traditional land phones, don’t expect the fax machine to disappear any time soon.

….

Just in case you or your company wants to join the modern business world, here’s a handy online Fax Comparison Guide: internet fax service Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing try here: internet fax service providers. Titus Hoskins Copyright 2010. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Internet Fax Services - Which One Is Right For You?

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Online or Internet fax has become extremely popular in our ever-increasing mobile society and workplace, mainly because with this modern way of faxing you can take your faxing with you, no matter where you go. While it is far too early to forecast the demise of the traditional fax machine, the writing is on the wall. This is one form of “cloud computing” that’s here to stay.

Internet fax is often referred to as email fax because you use your email system and your Internet connection to send and receive all your faxes. You sign-up to an online fax service provider where you’re given a local or toll-free fax number. There is no need for an extra fax phone line since everything is handled through the web. Your faxes are sent as email attachments, usually in Tiff or Pdf formats.

If you’re in need of online faxing, there are many top-name Internet fax service providers to choose from. Average monthly charges run around $10 a month, but there are cheaper rates and plans out there, especially if your faxing needs are minimum. Since this is an ongoing business expense, it pays to do your homework and shop around. If you choose wisely, you can save significant amounts of money, especially over the long term, .

But which fax service is right for you or your company?

First, you must make a close examination of your own faxing needs. Do you or your company depend heavily on faxing to bring in sales, for contacting clients, or for communicating with your employees? If you need a robust faxing service with thousands of faxes sent and received each month, then you have to be extra careful when picking your online faxing service. Are their services 100% reliable? Can they handle your heavy faxing? Are the rates competitive with using a traditional fax machine?

Now on the other hand, if your faxing needs are very minimum or low, you probably only send 4 or 5 faxes a month and they’re not crucial to your business, then choosing an Internet fax service will require less consideration. Keep in mind, you still want a good quality service but you can probably get a service for under $20 a year if you shop around.

Regardless of which type of service you’re seeking, here are some common points or a checklist of things to look for when choosing an online fax service.

1. Check the monthly fee or charge. The average is around $10 but there are cheaper ones which you can choose. Also keep in mind, some of these services also offer bundled plans which include voice mail, call-waiting, call-forwarding… or a virtual PBX service which may be well suited to you or your company especially if you’re operating a home business. Charges will be higher, but they will be much less expensive than setting up a real system with phone lines and receptionists. Just consider the virtual PBX option, especially if your overall business operating funds are low.

2. Check the set-up fees or charges. Most online fax services don’t charge a set-up fee but there are a few that do. Don’t necessarily rule these companies out because of the set-up fees but just be aware of them.

3. Check the number of Free Faxes allowed each month. The average is around 300 (incoming/outgoing) faxes each month, but these numbers will differ depending on the company or even the fax plan you choose. Also check how much it costs for faxes once you go over the allowed monthly limit, rates can be anywhere from 3 cents to 10 cents per fax. Might not seem like much but like phone bills, these costs can quickly add up.

4. Check if your service is completely scalable for companies. One of the great advantages of using an online fax service, it can be scaled up or scaled down very quickly and cheaply since you don’t have to install extra hardware such as fax phone lines or fax machines. Most of the better known fax services are completely scalable but also check before you sign-up.

5. Check the online storage amount and how long your faxes are stored online. With most fax providers you are given an online account or interface which you can use to check and send your faxes. Your faxes are also stored online here so check for how long and what amount of storage you get with the service. You should also check how exactly are your faxes sent, many companies have a desktop application you can use besides your online account and/or your email system.

6. Finally, check to see if the service offers a 30 Day Free Trial. Most Internet fax services offer this feature and it is a great way to thoroughly test-run the quality of a service before actually buying. This way, if the service or provider doesn’t meet your needs or come up to your standards, you won’t have lost any money.

Finally, if you take into consideration all of the points mentioned above when checking out the different fax services, your job will be much easier. Just remember, like buying any product or service, find one that perfectly meets your needs and you won’t be disappointed. Choose wisely.

For more information on Internet Fax Services use this handy online Comparison Guide to learn more about: internet fax services
Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing
try here: internet fax service providers.
Titus Hoskins Copyright 2010. This article may be freely
distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Internet Fax - Can It Really Make Your Business More Competitive?

Monday, January 11th, 2010

In today’s challenging business environment we hear a great deal about competitiveness among different companies or industries. More specifically, we hear about how certain companies are implementing different strategies to get a competitive edge or advantage over their competitors. One little known and perhaps surprising aspect to all this one upmanship is the usage of online or Internet fax by those companies looking for every advantage they can muster.

Surprising in the sense that we don’t always think of something as routine and simple as faxing to be a competitive advantage or a marketing strategy. Online or Internet faxing is the same as using the old fax machine in the office - isn’t it?

Wrong!

That’s where many businesses and companies drop the ball. They have not adjusted or advanced with the times by adopting this new modern way of faxing.

Internet fax is simply using your current email system and your web connection to send and receive all your faxes. You sign-up to an online fax service provider where you are given a local or toll-free fax number(s) which you give out to all your clients. Your faxes are sent as email attachments, usually in Tiff or Pdf formats. You will get an online site or interface where you can check and send your faxes. Many companies also have a desktop application which you can use to send faxes directly from your computer desktop.

Right around now, you’re probably asking the question: how can this make my company more competitive?

First, you have to realize the importance or significance of connecting all your faxing to computers and the Internet. You must realize how this is modernizing your business operations and bringing it up to date, mainly because now your faxes are available 24/7, 365 days of the year. Moreover, you and your business can be reached anytime, anywhere - as long as you have web access and these days that’s just about anywhere on the planet. Your business activities is no longer confined to the office setting or the 9 to 5 routine. Your company is accessible and open for business around the clock and if you depend on faxing to bring in sales or for contacting clients, then one can easily see how this can make your company more competitive.

Second, you have to realize Internet faxing is much more cheaper than the traditional way of faxing. You don’t have the monthly cost of an extra fax phone line, nor do you have the costs of inks, toners and papers since everything is handled electronically. Plus, start-up costs are less because most online fax services have no set-up fees; actually with most services you have a free trial period where you can check out the quality of the service
before you buy.

Third, online or email fax gives you other advantages. You can send or receive more than one fax at a time or simultaneously, which can be an advantage if time is a factor in acquiring contracts or contacting clients. Plus, you have fax broadcasting where you can send a fax to large groups of people with one click of a button.

Fourth, most Internet fax services are completely scalable for businesses which means you can easily scale up or scale down your fax numbers/services depending on the business climate. Since you can do all this without adding additional hardware (fax phone lines, fax machines) your operating costs will be much less.

Fifth, online faxing is as easy as sending an email. There is much less hassle and trouble, just imagine no more missed faxes because of paper jams or busy signals. Plus, no more messy inks and toners to deal with on a daily basis. For these reasons, Internet faxing is often referred to as hassle-free faxing.

Lastly, everyone realizes that our society, including many business activities, have become very mobile. We have countless portable devices such as BlackBerries, iPhones, Netbooks, Laptops… which allows us to take our communications as well as our business activities along with us, no matter where we go. Internet fax fits nicely into this mobile business environment and adds to the competitiveness of your company. So are you or your company using it?

It’s your call?

For more information on Internet Fax Services use this
handy online Comparison Guide to learn more about: internet fax
Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing
try here: internet fax services.
Titus Hoskins Copyright 2010. This article may be freely
distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Internet Fax Providers - What To Look For Before Buying?

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

Internet Fax is known by many different names such as
email fax, online fax, electronic fax, e fax or even
digital fax. Regardless of what you call it, Internet
Fax simply means using your email system and the Internet
to send and receive your faxes via email attachments usually
in PDF or TIFF formats.

You have an online interface (site) where you can not only
store your faxes but also where you send and receive your faxes.
In addition, many providers will let you fax thru a desktop
application or directly thru your email program.

Internet faxing has become very popular mainly because it
is relatively inexpensive and it lets you send and receive
your faxes anywhere, anytime. It is more secure than the
old fax machine and since it is web based, you can basically
fax wherever you have Internet access and these days that’s
just about everywhere.

If you’re looking to purchase an Internet Fax service you
will probably consider some of the more popular brand name
online fax providers such as MyFax,eFax®, RingCentral, RapidFax,
TrustFax, Send2Fax, MetroFax and Faxage.

However, choosing an Internet Fax service does take some
consideration, especially since this is usually a “long-term
service” and even a small difference in price can add up quickly
over the long haul. So here are some certain common features and
qualities that you should look for before buying or
signing up to any one fax service.

1. Overall Quality Of The Fax Service

The overall quality of your chosen fax service is very important
to consider. You want a reliable service with a minimum of
problems. Your online faxing should be seamless and hassle-free;
with any issues quickly answered or solved. Checking customer
reviews and ratings will give you some idea of the quality of the
different fax service providers. Test-driving a service will give
you a better view.

2. Good Reliable Customer Support 24/7

You want good customer support that’s available 24/7. Again,
if you should have problems, they should be taken care of in
a timely fashion. Check the Support hours - most companies have
24/7 service but not all.

3. Competitive Pricing

There are countless fax plans and services so it pays to
shop around for the best price. But again, look first for
a quality service instead of just choosing the cheapest rate.
Consider the number of pages (incoming & outgoing) which
you will receive with the monthly fee. Check what’s being
charged for overage or extra pages. Also remember, buying
with an annual plan can save you up to 25% or more.

4. 30 Day Free Trial

Most Internet Fax Providers give a 30 Day Free Trial so
take advantage of this offer to test-drive a service.
Try before you buy. Some companies also offer one month
free but you only get this on your second month into the
plan.

5. $10 Monthly Fee

The average monthly fee is around $10. Some plans offer
a small annual fee of around $20, which should be considered
if your faxing needs are very minimum. There are also some
services where you pay around $4 per month with no free pages,
you buy faxes as you need them.

6. No Set Up Fee

Most but not all Internet Fax services have no set up
fees. Check your service plan before you sign up. Keep
in mind, it might be worth your while to pay a start-up
fee if the service you’re getting is worth it.

7. No hidden Fees

Most fax services do not have hidden fees but you
must ask or check before you buy. Make sure all your
faxing costs are up-front and you can check these
costs at any time. Some companies will notify you
when there are extra charges over your regular limit.

8. Around 300 Combined Pages (Incoming & Outgoing)

There are different amounts but most companies have
around 300 combined faxing pages included in their
plans, this includes incoming and outgoing faxes.
If you do a lot of faxing, it pays to shop around for
the best service with the largest number of faxes each
month.

9. 10 Cents Per Minute for Extra Pages

The average for extra pages is around 10 cents
per minute but again it pays to shop around. Also
note, some companies quote rates in pages, while
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.

10. Local and Toll-Free Numbers

Check what type of Fax Number you will be receiving,
Local or Toll-Free. Check to see if there are any
extra charges for the Toll-Free number.

11. Online Interface & Storage Capacities

Most companies have an online interface (site) where
you can send and receive your faxes. But each will
have different storage amounts and different lengths
of time you can keep your faxes online. This is important
if you plan to keep your faxes for a long time or if you
want to store large quantities of faxes online.

12. Scalable Business & Corporate Plans

Most fax providers offer corporate faxing plans that
are completely scalable to meet your growing company’s
needs. Also check for special rates if you will be
doing any large volume fax broadcasting or you’re
operating a large amount of fax numbers within your
company.

All of the above features should be considered when
buying your Internet Fax service. Some of these will
vary depending on your own faxing needs or requirements;
but always keep in mind, you’re looking for a good
reliable service that offers quality faxing at a
competitive price. Do a little homework now and it
can pay big dividends down the road.

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

Has The Old Fax Machine Finally Croaked?

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

 

Will Internet or email fax replace the old fax machine?
Discover why this new way of faxing has become extremely
popular in today’s modern workplace and how it may just
spell the end for the old fax machine.

Internet fax is overtaking the old fax machine…

 

Will Internet Fax Replace The Old Fax Machine?

New Internet Fax Guide

Saturday, February 9th, 2008

 

This Internet Fax site and guide has just been
created to give everyone the information they
need on choosing an Online Fax Provider.

To Learn More About Internet Fax - Get This Free Fax Guide

Click Here: Free Internet Fax Guide

This Fax Guide is completely free for a limited
time only - so you should get while its going for
or at no cost. It’s a handy little resource that
will help you understand online or email faxing.

The Internet Fax Guide will give you all the
data and info you need to make a good choice
when picking an online fax server. Cheap doesn’t
always mean you will save money if you don’t get
a good reliable service. The headaches alone
will cost you dearly!

It also explains why going with Internet Fax can
be a very smart business move on your part. Why
you just may HAVE TO use it. Can you or your company
remain competitive if you’re not using Internet Fax? 

Can you afford not to use it?

That’s the main question you have to ask. Do you
really need Internet Fax? Are you losing business
by not having it?

Like everything in the business world - faxing is
also changing. The old fax machine may not be dead
yet - but the new kid in town is worth considering
if your business is operating 24/7. If your business
requiries you to receive your faxes anywhere, anytime?

If so you should check out and download this handy
new Internet Fax Guide:

 Internet Fax Service Guide
 

Going Green with Internet Fax

Monday, January 14th, 2008

Everyone and everthing is going green these days,
including Internet Fax and Internet fax users. And for
very good reasons - with global warming, climate change,
melting polar ice caps, severe weather conditions…
the truth, convenient or otherwise, is as evident as
your next weather forecast.

We need to get our act together or it can honestly
be the “end game” for our once lovely planet.

Fax users have discovered using Internet fax instead
of the old fax machine can be a great way of going
green… and one fax service provider that is leading
the way is MyFax.

Discover why and how you can “go green” by using
Internet Fax:
Going Green with Internet Fax