What's An Online Fax Service, and Do I Need It? - By: Mark Etinger

So, you've still got your fax machine from ten years ago? Admit it, it can be kind of annoying to maintain – you've got that dedicated fax line which sometimes plays up, and then you've got fax paper, ink and toner to buy. And how many times have you had to wait by the fax machine for an important fax? You're a busy person with things to do, places to be, but your fax machine doesn't recognize it!

Let's face it, these days, time is a commodity, and you don't want to waste it if you can possibly help it. You want practical ways to operate better, faster, and more conveniently. If you've ever thought that exchanging faxes the old-school way is becoming a bit outdated, a bit 1980s, then you'd be right. A fax machine is so last century! Internet faxing is the solution in an increasingly time-poor, web-based world.

So, what is an internet fax service? Anyone can receive faxes to email – all you need is an internet connection and an email address, which we're guessing you do, since you're reading this article, and your existing fax number. With an online fax service, you can send and receive faxes from virtually anywhere, and you don't end up with piles of fax paper – if you need a hard copy of something, simply send your fax to your printer. How good does that sound?

Basically, you have two options when it comes to an internet fax service – there are free services, as well as paid subscription services which require a monthly payment or an annual subscription, which is usually cheaper. Decide how much you think you'll be using internet faxing before you commit to a plan, and check the range of features offered. Some plans may have a limit on the number of faxes you can send and receive each month and will charge a fee if you go over the limit.

Most online faxing services provide options for sending and receiving faxes via the web, an email account, a PC or Microsoft Outlook and have user-friendly interfaces to allow you to manage your account easily. Depending on your internet fax service, through your account, you can resend faxes, send multiple documents, track, store and archive faxes, manage your address book, and choose whether you want confirmation emails for the faxes you send.

So, do you need an internet fax service? If you need to send and receive faxes regularly, and you travel or are out of the office a lot, or you simply can't handle waiting by the fax machine anymore, online faxing is kind of a no-brainer. If you're a real estate agent or manager, it's almost a must to keep on top of your correspondence. Plus, internet faxing can save you money – a small monthly fee often outweighs the cost of maintaining a phone line and buying those dreaded fax machine supplies.

About the Author

WiredFax.com is a full-featured internet fax service offering four convenient options: online faxing via email, PC, Microsoft Outlook, and the web. Our online fax service works for everyone — all you need is an internet connection and an email address!

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Mark-Etinger/37599

Additional Articles From - Home | Computers | Software