Internet Fax

What is Internet Fax?

One of the greatest conveniences we have come to accept in offices everywhere in the latter part of the 20^th century is the fax machine.  At its most rudimentary level, we have been able to transmit documents from one fax machine to another via a phone line in a matter of minutes In most instances, it is no longer necessary to mail documents to another office and have to wait even a day by express mail, or the expense of hiring a messenger to deliver the document to a local office.  In recent years, however, faxing a document has now been made easier by sending an Internet fax. The Internet fax can electronically transmit a report directly from your computer without the inconvenience of printing a document, running out of paper, running out of ink, and creating a big clunky mess.  This convenient method of faxing is also known as online faxing or e-faxing.

How do I use an Internet Fax?

If you’ve decided that you want to set up an Internet fax service, you really don’t need to do anything.  Your Internet fax service provider handles setting up this service.  Rather than transmitting the data through a landline, the service provider sets it up to have the data transmitted in digital form.  The fax you receive will come to you similar to how an email reaches you.  If you want to send an Internet fax, you can drop and drag the document you wish to send to a fax icon which is located on the desktop of your computer.  The fax service provider will then send the fax from a secure fax machine that’s set up on the premises.

If you need to send a report by Internet fax that was given to you as a paper report, you must first scan it to your computer.  Only then can you send the fax from your computer as discussed in the previous paragraph.  When you set up your online fax system, you can also choose your fax machine phone number just as you would when setting up a standard fax machine.

As you can see, there is a potential for cost savings by using the Internet fax.   You reduce cost and space by not have to stock ink and paper as you previously did with an older fax machine.  It is also convenient not having to stand up and walk to a fax machine when you need to send or receive a fax.  Before starting your fax service on our computer, it’s important to research a provider that is best for your company in terms of service and costs.

What are the advantages to choosing to use an Internet fax?

One advantage is that you already have the equipment you need to use an Internet fax service right from your PC or laptop.  All you really need is a provider to set the service up for you.

Another advantage is security. Online fax uses security encryption which makes it safe send any information through the internet in the most secure way possible. The security encryption allows all the internet faxes you send and receive to be secure.

What kind of files can I send through an internet fax?

Many Internet fax service providers allow you to send any type of file.  However, not all internet fax services send the same types of file.  For example, some allow you to send pdf files, jpeg files, and Word documents while others are limited to sending .pdf files and Word files.  Before contacting a provider, you should know the type of documents you’ll be sending and receiving most so that you’ll know which type of online fax system will support the type of files you’ll be sending and receiving.

How much does it cost to use an internet fax?

Costs usually are based on a specific number of pages per month although many now have unlimited pages for a low fixed monthly fee. Remember, you no longer need to worry about running low on ink and paper.

How reliable are internet faxes?

Internet faxes are about as reliable as emails you receive.  It’s usually a very smooth transition from one computer fax system to another.  You can trust the internet to send a fax to your destination.  With a regular fax machine, there are busy signals and jammed papers to worry about.  Internet faxing has solved this problem as the service provider has large fax servers and redundancy to ensure a smooth transfer.

Conclusion

Hopefully this has highlighted good reasons to try Internet Fax service.  Request a free quote using the form on this page or compare providers using our comparison table.  Start saving with Internet Fax.