How to Send a Fax Online

Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins

Online faxing is becoming extremely popular with individuals and companies. Some say it will make using the old traditional fax machine obsolete in the very near future. That still remains to be seen for there's a lag time before new technologies fully replace the old ones.

While we are pondering that question, there are still many people wondering how this new way of faxing actually works. Just how do you send a fax online?

First, you must know, online or Internet fax is simply using your computer and the web to send your faxes. You sign-up with an online fax provider where you're given a local or Toll-Free fax number which you can use to send and receive your faxes. Your fax provider acts as an intermediary on your behalf to handle your faxes.

Faxes are sent via email attachments, usually in TIFF or PDF format, thru your computer and the internet. Remember, faxes can be sent from one online fax account to another and also from your fax account/number to a traditional fax machine and vice versa. Again, your online fax service will act as an intermediary and handle all your fax transitions, whether they're coming from another online fax account or from a traditional fax machine.

Most online fax service providers will have an online site (interface) where you can logon and check your faxes. You can also send your faxes from this online account and you can also store your faxes there. Plus, you can send your faxes directly through your email system, so check with your particular fax service to see how this is done.

In addition, some fax services have a desktop application where you can send and receive your faxes. Again, check with your particular fax service to get the details. Other plans are directly integrated with Microsoft Office applications and works with Excel, Word and PowerPoint documents.

With online faxing, you can still have a cover letter and a multi-page fax, the same as with a fax machine, but you're using an email attachment to hold and transmit your fax.

Why Are So Many People Switching To Online Fax?

Many individuals and companies are switching over to Internet faxing mainly because it has many advantages: it's paperless, inkless, phoneless, totally legal, cheaper, more secure and much more convenient than traditional faxing. It is completely mobile - you can use it with your laptops, cell phones, PDAs... to receive and send your faxes. Basically, your faxes are accessible wherever you have the Internet and these days that's just about everywhere.

Online faxing is also seen as a "green" way to fax since it is paperless and inkless. Plus, you save energy by not having a fax machine running 24/7 just to receive your faxes.

Moreover, using online fax is the wave of the future. It connects all your faxing with your computer and the Internet. It is always on and no more missed faxes because of busy signals since with Internet fax you can receive faxes simultaneously.

Online fax is one way to keep your company or business more competitive especially if faxing is very important for acquiring sales, clients and communicating with your employees. In these harsh economic times, you must stay competitive or lose out; that's why many companies are using online fax services in addition to their old fax machines. Others are switching completely over to this new way of faxing.

You must use every advantage you can find. So getting an online fax service is just another way to make your business more competitive. Keep this in mind when you go to send your next fax.