In our fast moving world, new technologies replace old ones everyday. So it's not really strange to question the whole notion of the conventional fax machine being replaced by a more modern service or method. Are the days of the old fax machine numbered and can it possibly be replaced by online faxing?
The answer to that question is not an outright yes. Well, maybe if you look further enough into the future, but the traditional fax still have it die-hard users and one won't be seeing these machines disappear any time soon.
Probably the best comparison can be made with cell phones or mobile technology, while cell phones have virtually taken over how we communicate, there is still a place for landlines or fixed phones. Along the same reasoning, one can't really see these land phones disappearing from the scene in the near future, no matter how popular cell phones become. Likewise, one doesn't really see "snail mail" disappearing just because we now have email.
Actually, these are very good comparisons because online or Internet faxing is a mobile version of traditional faxing. With online fax, one is using their web connection and their email account to send and receive all their faxes. You just have to sign up to an online provider who will handle all your communications in return for a small monthly charge - around $8 to $10. And because these services are web based - you can send/receive your faxes anywhere, anytime.
Just as we have seen that cell phones and email can be very convenient to use, regardless of where we are, online faxing is just as convenient and portable. It's this "flexibility of use" and "location independence" which have made this new way of faxing very popular with both individuals and companies.
However, online or email fax, does have some other strong benefits which contribute to this growing popularity. Besides the cheaper rates and expenses, this new technology is completely scalable and can be quickly adjusted to meet your growing business needs. It is also more secure and private, since your messages can be encrypted. Plus, everything is digital and tied directly into your computers, so your files can be easily stored and retrieved at any time, with a few clicks of the mouse.
In addition, just as email and mobile phones, have sped up our rate of doing business and communicating, online fax is doing the same thing for our faxes. It has made these business transactions faster since you are no longer tied down to the office setting or even office hours for that matter. Obviously, anyone using this new technology will have a competitive advantage over some one still using the traditional method.
One final word, just as we have seen individuals and companies still using land phones and postal mail, for the most part these parties have also embraced cell phones and email. In other words, other than expense, there is no reason why anyone can't use both methods to send and receive their faxes. Keep the best of both worlds and still retain any competitive edge these new technologies bring into play. There's no reason why your company can't do the same, but as in all business decisions - it's your call?
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