Copyright (c) 2009 Titus HoskinsFor the very computer savvy young person who probably already has more than a few micro-chips permanently coded into their DNA, the above question might sound rather silly. However, for many of us, understanding just exactly how online or Internet faxing works, is still a bit more puzzling, especially for those of us who are used to faxing the old-fashion way thru the good old reliable fax machine in the office.And that doubly goes for those of us who don’t necessarily keep up to date on the latest developments in technology. For older workers who have always used the traditional fax machine, online faxing can be seen as down-right perplexing. With the traditional way of faxing, we are used to punching in a few numbers and scanning off the fax in the machine in order to send a fax.Now, with online fax, I have to use computers and the Internet? What’s up with that?Like the introduction of any new technology there is a learning curve, especially for seasoned workers and small business owners who are set in their ways. Online fax has become extremely popular but there are still many people and many businesses not taking full advantage of this new way of faxing.Perhaps, the biggest obstacle, a lot of people simply don’t understand how online fax works? They might know it has something to do with computers and the web, but just how does it work?First, you must understand, online fax is simply using your email system and your Internet connection to send your faxes. You sign-up to an Internet Fax service provider who gives you your own local or Toll-Free fax number and you are also given an online site (interface) where you can view and send your faxes. This online provider acts as your intermediary to handle all your faxing. You use your fax number to receive and send your faxes as email attachments, usually in TIFF or PDF formats.But how does it work?This question was actually put to Christian Watts, the co-founder of FAXAGE, an online fax service provider operating out of Denver. Here’s his answer:”Ultimately, every Internet Fax service works by receiving faxes by having some sort of dedicated phone numbers coming in to fax servers at their site or sites. Once a fax is received on the fax server, it is converted to a suitable format (PDF or TIFF with FAXAGE, PDF by default) and then sent to the customer. In our case, we send these as email attachments and store them in our website as well by default. We offer many customizable parameters around the messaging for received faxes, ability to route ‘fax received’ emails to an unlimited number of email addresses, API methods for receiving faxes into systems, etc.On the sending side, the process is reversed – the customer sends in an electronic document (either via email, website, or, in the case of FAXAGE, an API method is also provided), the system converts it to a format suitable for faxing (The fax standard is G3 or G4 TIFF) and sends it out via a fax server. Status is then posted to the FAXAGE website as well as emailed back by default. Again, we offer a lot of flexibility around number of retries, resolution to use, priority control, which users can send faxes in a given account, etc.”Basically, what you’re doing is switching all your faxing chores over to the computer, the Internet and your email system. You are simply bringing your faxing into the modern computer age. Just as you have modernized many other aspects of your business, you should also modernize your faxing. Keep in mind, you can still send and receive faxes thru the old fax machine but now you have the option of using computers and the web.Obviously, online fax must have many benefits or advantages, otherwise everyone would still be using the old fax machine. In other words, why has Internet faxing become so popular?Mainly because with Internet fax you and your business are no longer tied down to the fax machine in the office, you can send and receive your faxes anywhere, anytime. Online fax is also cheaper because you don’t need an extra fax phone line, no need to purchase all that paper, inks and toners since online faxing is paperless.Internet fax is ideally suited for companies since it is completely “scalable” for your growing business, you can quickly add more lines/numbers without having to install all the needed hardware as with the old way of faxing. It can also make your business more competitive, especially if you depend on faxing to bring in new sales and/or clients… your business is open 24/7, 365 days of the year.Simply put, online fax works by utilizing all the modern contractions of the workplace, mainly your computer, your email system and the Internet. It uses all of these to give you fast, inexpensive, reliable faxing that’s available anytime, anywhere. What more could you ask for?

Online fax, also known as Internet fax, is simply using your email system and the web to send and receive your faxes. The major reason this new technology has become so popular probably has to do with the fact that you can discard the old fax machine and replace it with mobile devices such as PDAs, laptops, cell phones… making all your faxing entirely portable and mobile.

Obviously, once you have switched over all your faxing chores to these web/computer based devices, you don’t need an actual fax machine and all the hassles associated with running such a device. Mainly, no more messy inks, no more paper jams, no more fax machine maintenance and no need for an extra fax phone line. Plus, you will have none of the costs associated with these items which means major savings for you.

Let’s face it, these traditional fax costs do add up, especially if you or your company relies heavily on faxing as a vital component of your business operations. Just the cost of paper, inks and toners alone, can be expensive. Therefore, going with an online fax service can save you significant money over the long haul, as well as saving you money on start-up costs if you’re just creating your business.

Now, if you’re thinking of switching over to Internet faxing, you will have to sign-up to an online fax service provider which will supply you with your own Toll-Free or local fax number. Then your faxes are sent via the web through your email system as attachments, usually in TIFF or PDF format. Because online fax is web based, you can access your faxes anytime, anywhere – as long as you have Internet access and these days that’s just about anywhere in the world.

With your fax service, you’re also given an online site (account) where you can logon and do all your faxing chores. Your faxes are even stored online so you can easily check your faxes, from yesterday or from last month.

Since the different fax providers have slightly different rates and faxing plans, it pays to do your homework and shop around before you sign up to any one service. Keep in mind, you can save money by picking the service that perfectly matches your faxing requirements. If you do minimum faxing, then you can choose a lite faxing plan that charges around $20 a year, but remember most fax plans usually run from $10 to $15 a month. Again, there are cheaper quality services out there, so shop around.

Recently, many businesses both small and big, are saving on their phone/fax costs by going with a virtual PBX (private branch exchange) system that handles all their office phone requirements which includes online faxing services. This can be a great money-saver and many companies are switching over to this new method of handling all their business communications. For a small business, it is ideal because you can project a “BIG” company image at minimum cost or expense. What more can you ask for?

Another way to save money has to do with fax broadcasting, if you send large volumes of faxes out to clients, then online fax is definitely the way to go since you can send countless numbers of faxes simultaneously. In addition, most online fax services are completely scalable for business, which means you can quickly increase or decrease your number of fax lines to match the business climate. You can quickly adjust your faxing requirements to meet your needs.

In all these ways, online faxing can save any company money directly, but it can also save you revenue indirectly if your company depends upon faxing to bring in new sales and clients. In this very competitive business world, any advantage over your competition can mean more revenue for your company and Internet fax gives you that advantage. Plus, it also puts your company on par with other companies using this service.

Remember, online fax is the wave of the future, it connects all your faxing to the Internet and your computer. It brings your faxing into the modern computer age, just look at how email has changed the way we communicate and do business; online faxing will have the same effect. So can you really afford not to have Internet fax?

Rarely has any new technology taken root and become so popular with users as quickly as online or Internet Fax. Well, maybe with the exception of email that is, but then again, the two are directly related to each other since efaxing is simply sending all your faxes as email attachments, usually in TIFF or PDF formats. Internet Fax, online fax, email to fax, electronic fax or no matter what name you apply to it, has really taken hold in the business world. It has now become a more efficient way to send all your faxes mainly because you’re no longer tied down to the old traditional fax machine in the office. You can send and receive your faxes wherever you have Internet access and these days that’s just about everywhere. Internet fax is cost-effective, easy and very convenient to use no matter what your faxing requirements are. In order to receive or to start using an online fax system you must sign-up for an Online Fax Service where you’re given a local or Toll-Free fax number. This fax number is given out to all your business associates and used in all your company’s communications. Your Internet fax service provider will act as your intermediary to handle all your faxes whether they’re from another computer or from a traditional fax machine. Once you have acquired an online faxing service provider you’re ready to fax! You will be given an online site (interface) where you can log on to send and receive your faxes. Your faxes are also stored online here so you can access them at any time. There are many well known eFaxing service companies which you can choose from: MyFax, eFax®, RingCentral, TrustFax, Faxage, MetroFax, RapidFax… among others. Each efax company will have slightly different plans so it pays to shop around to find the perfect match for your faxing needs. The average cost is around $10 a month but there are some cheaper plans if your faxing requirements are very small. Online fax saves you time, money and relief from all the hassles connected with running your old fax machine: paper jams, messy inks, busy signals, missed or interrupted transmissions. Internet Fax does have some distinct advantages over the traditional fax machine; online faxing is more secure, more reliable, more convenient and much more easier than the old way of faxing. Online fax is also much cheaper when you realize there’s no need for a fax machine, paper, inks, toners or an extra phone line for that matter. Plus, you can send and receive your faxes, anywhere, anytime. Online fax will make any company or business more competitive, especially if your company relies upon faxing to acquire clients, make sales or communicate with your employees. In this ever increasing dog-eat-dog business climate, you need every competitive edge you can muster; Internet faxing gives you that competitive edge. The business world is constantly changing and you must change along with the times or go the way of the Do-Do bird. Online faxing will keep your company or business in the game. Internet faxing brings all your company’s faxing into the modern age; connecting your faxes with the computer and the Internet. Not only that, but you also save money by using online faxing, what more can you ask for?

Copyright (c) 2009 Titus HoskinsOnline or Internet fax has become an extremely popular service on the web. It is being used by more and more businesses and individuals who want a more mobile and a more secure way of faxing. Yet, many people still don’t know exactly how online faxing actually works.Like anything that is relatively new, it will probably take a while before this convenient service is widely known in the general population. Perhaps, the greatest stumbling block is that most people are so familiar with faxing via the old facsimile machine in the office; getting their heads around using the web for faxing will take some time.However, just like email revolutionized how we send and receive our mail, so too has online fax revolutionized how we send and receive our faxes. Internet faxing is simply the more modern way to fax.Actually, these two new communication methods are closely intertwined since online fax is basically using your email system and your Internet connection to do all your faxing. You send and receive your faxes as email attachments usually in TIFF or PDF format.Remember, in order to use online fax you have to sign-up to an Internet fax service provider who will act as your intermediary to handle all your faxing. You will receive a local or Toll-Free number which you can give out to all your contacts. There is no need for an extra fax phone line. You will also receive an online site (account) where you can logon and do your faxing. Your faxes are also stored in this online account.However, what confuses many people is the fact that you can send/receive your online faxes in many different ways including through the old traditional office machine. Your fax service will act as your intermediary to intercept your faxes coming from an ordinary fax machine and direct them to your online fax account.You can also get desktop applications which will allow you to directly fax from your desktop. Most services will work with Windows Outlook and Windows Office. Finally, most services will let you send a fax by just sending an email, i.e. destination number(at)yourfaxservice.com – It doesn’t get any easier than this.Each fax service has slightly different procedures and methods so you have to become familiar with your chosen service. Also, each service will have different faxing rates and monthly fees, but most charge around $10 a month. There are less expensive services out there so it pays to shop around, especially when you consider this is a long term ongoing business expense.The main reason why email or online faxing has become so popular is the total freedom it gives you. Since it is web based, you can send and receive a fax anywhere, anytime, as long as you have Internet access. You can use any mobile device such as a cell phone or laptop to do all your faxing. It totally frees you from being tied down to the old fax machine in the office.Plus, your faxes can be encrypted so it is much more secure than the traditional way of faxing. And no one but you has to see your faxes since you have your own private access to your account. This is important if you have faxes of a sensitive nature which you want to keep private.Lastly, another major reason online fax has become so popular, most faxing services are completely scalable for businesses. You can upsize or downsize depending on your company’s requirements or needs. In this uncertain economy, having this flexibility is a major plus.If you’re not using an online fax service you may just be losing out on one of the most convenient ways of doing business. You really do need it if your business depends heavily on faxing for bringing in new sales and clients; besides you may be falling behind your competition who are probably already using this new more mobile way of faxing. Can you afford not to use Internet fax?It’s your call?