A Faster, More Efficient And Cost Effective Way To Fax
Chances are you own a computer and have Internet access. So why not use those resources to fax more efficiently and cost effectively? Industry studies are plentiful that show the savings realized from Internet fax. These time and money saving opportunities are enjoyed at home, at the office, or on the go.
The Basics of Internet Faxing
Understanding online fax couldn’t be easier. It simply means sending or receiving a fax over the Internet instead of the typical phone lines used by a fax machine. As a form of cloud computing, the only three things required for Web faxing are:
- a computer or mobile device;
- a broadband connection;
- an online fax service.
How Online Faxing Saves Time and Money
In conducting industry studies, researchers perform a fax machine versus Internet fax comparison to illustrate how online fax can actually provide efficiency and cost effectiveness. Here are some aspects that were compared.
| Faxing Attributes | FAX MACHINE | ONLINE FAX |
| 99% uptime; always available, no busy signals, errors, paper jams, etc. | No | Yes |
| Send and receive numerous faxes simultaneously | No | Yes |
| Takes up home or office space | Yes | No |
| Requires filing or shredding of faxes | Yes | No |
| Paper-free environment | No | Yes |
| Promotes electronic routing or sharing of faxes between individuals | No | Yes |
| Is mobile; accessible from anywhere | No | Yes |
| Environmentally friendly | No | Yes |
| Monthly operating costs (equipment, supplies, fees, service and maintenance contracts, administrative expenses, etc.) | Over $100 | Less than $20 |
Online Fax Services – The Engine of Online Faxing
Outsourcing, or the use of a third party vendor to perform a service, is not a new concept. For years, individuals have outsourced their landscaping, home cleaning and the like, while businesses outsource various business services, like payroll, billing, shipping, waste removal, etc. Online fax providers are the third party data centers that supply the automated platform that makes faxing using the Internet and storing faxes in the cloud for easy access possible.
There are different types of Internet fax providers. These Web based fax services are categorized according to the faxing options they offer. The two main types of Internet fax providers are:
- An email fax only service, offering fax to email and email to fax options through an existing email account;
- A comprehensive Internet fax service offering multiple faxing methods, with a Web based interface provided by the Web fax service, a mobile app, email, desktop applications, mobile devices and an existing fax machine among them.
Choosing Your Fax Supplier
Going about finding the best online fax for your personal use or business use should start with your own online fax comparison. Check out the service, features and pricing plans of several online fax suppliers to find the one that offers the best Internet fax for your specific faxing needs.
Comparing Online Fax Providers
1. OnlineFaxService.com - Online fax services comparison chart
2. Internet faxing providers compared – Comparison between faxing providers