| With devices such as cell phones, net books and | | | | use internet fax to replace the traditional fax machine |
| similar internet-ready devices becoming more available | | | | entirely. By directing all of their faxes through an online |
| and more technologically advanced, internet fax has | | | | service, a company may not need to expend the |
| emerged as an efficient manner to send and receive | | | | money to purchase a fax machine. They also do not |
| important documents. Internet fax may allow | | | | have to deal with problems such as the fax machine |
| businesses to save money through a reduction in | | | | breaking down, a situation which can be costly both in |
| costs including fax lines, toner, paper, repair and the | | | | money and in time. |
| initial costs of the fax machine and replacement of | | | | With third party electronic devices, internet fax allows |
| that machine. Internet fax allows access to important | | | | businesses to become more mobile. Even if an |
| faxes on the go and allows for important faxes to be | | | | employee is away from the office, they can send and |
| sent on the road. It also allows greater confidentiality | | | | receive faxes through their smart phone. If an |
| for faxes and is not dependent on the device being | | | | employee requires access to certain information from |
| turned on. | | | | a fax to assist him with potential clients he or she has |
| Before a business can start sending and receiving | | | | access to that information on their mobile devices. If a |
| faxes online, they need to decide upon a service. | | | | client requests certain information that the employee |
| There are a number of great services out there on | | | | does not have in their possession, he or she has the |
| the Internet to choose from. These services provide | | | | power to contact someone who does have the |
| an Internet fax number that allows users to send and | | | | information and get them to fax it to his or her PDA or |
| receive faxes online. Faxes received can be retrieved | | | | other mobile device. This expedites the process of |
| on an Internet control panel or at an email address. In | | | | getting the necessary information since a company |
| order to take full advantage of the internet fax | | | | does not have to search for a physical fax page filed |
| services, a company can use an internet ready device | | | | away somewhere. This time saved can be essential in |
| such as a smart phone. Some phones that work well | | | | business negotiations. |
| for this purpose are the iPhone, BlackBerry, Droid and | | | | Internet fax allows businesses to control who has |
| the Palm series. Netbooks are another good option. | | | | access to a document. With PIN code protection to |
| These are compact laptops that provide much of the | | | | faxes, only those with proper permissions have |
| function of the traditional laptop but they are easier for | | | | access to it. With a standard fax machine, documents |
| a person to carry with them. | | | | are not always picked up immediately by those to |
| Internet fax capabilities may allow businesses to save | | | | whom they are sent. In this case, the fax is sitting in |
| money. With internet fax, a business has the choice to | | | | the machine and anyone who has access to the |
| either make a hard copy of a fax or to save it on the | | | | machine has access to the fax. In the business world, |
| device for easy access. Faxing over the Internet | | | | faxes often contain sensitive information that |
| enables the business to save substantial amounts of | | | | companies do not want everyone to see. Identity theft |
| money on printing costs such as paper and toner. | | | | is a problem and if someone's personal information |
| Another result of this is that the business has less | | | | was compromised, the time, money and effort to clear |
| paperwork to organize. Faxes can be kept and | | | | everything up may be enormous. Besides this effort, |
| organized electronically allowing for a more streamlined | | | | there may be loss of goodwill and trust if the identity |
| work environment. Businesses also have the option to | | | | of a client is compromised. |