How To Choose An Online Fax Service

Internet or online fax is quickly becoming the modus operandi for businesses both small and big. Just like cell phones are making inroads and replacing traditional land phones, online fax services are gradually replacing traditional fax machines in the office. These shifts in how we communicate are slightly related to each other, in the sense that we are moving away from fixed static devices towards more portable mobile ones.The same applies to our business communications and the growing importance of a portable faxing system. This is one of the reasons why online fax, using your email system and your computer/web connection to send and receive all your faxes, is becoming an essential office tool.But just how do you go about choosing an online fax service?First and foremost, you have to pick a service which is of high quality and has good support. This should be your number one consideration when choosing an online fax service. Perhaps, one of the best ways to do this, is to take a test-drive of the fax service of your choice and see first-hand if the service lives up to your standards. Thankfully, most reputable providers will offer you a free trial so that you can do exactly that – check out their services before you buy.Next, you must do your homework and compare all the pricing and fees associated with these different fax providers. You must check both the monthly rate/charge and how many faxes you can send/receive for this price. You should also check the “overage fee” and how much you will have to pay if you go beyond your monthly limit. Extremely important factor to know and if you send a lot of faxes each month, you might even consider getting an unlimited fax plan.Also check to see if the fax provider has corporate plans which can be custom designed to meet all your faxing needs. This is important if you plan to do a lot of fax broadcasting and will be contacting thousands or millions of contacts. Keep in mind, with most of these services, you can quickly import your whole contact list and send a message to thousands with one click of the mouse.Once you sign up to a service you’re given a local or toll-free fax number and you’re also given an online account. You must check how many email users can access this account, each provider has a different number. You must also check to see how long your faxes are stored in this online account. Again, each provider has slightly different times and amounts.If you have a growing company or business, you must check to see if your chosen provider or service is completely scalable? Can you quickly upgrade or downgrade the number of fax lines you have? This can be an important factor in these uncertain economic times.Lastly, you have to check all the technical aspects of your account or service. How are your faxes sent? Which file types can you use? Is there a desktop application so that you can fax from your computer desktop? What are the security measures and are your faxes encrypted? How secure are your faxes when they are stored online? How do you send a fax through your email system?When choosing an online fax service, all of these questions should be asked and answered. Only after you have a comprehensive picture of your chosen provider will you be able to make a knowledgeable decision. This may take some actual work on your part but keep in mind, this will be an ongoing business expense so doing a little due diligence now, can save you big bucks over the long haul. Take your time and choose wisely.