Simplifying Document Management with Internet Fax

One more article from TMCnet. These guys know the correct words for this technology!

It used to be that document management meant filing and keeping track of physical pieces of paper. While this wasn’t necessarily all that efficient a means of keeping track of information, there wasn’t really an alternative. Then, desktop computers entered the scene and shook things up. For many years there has been the promise of the “paperless office;” an office that uses no physical paper but stores and uses all its files in electronic format on a computer.

Unfortunately, the paperless office has yet to completely materialize, although some progress has been made. Scanners and optical characters recognition (OCR) software, e-mail, voice recognition and speech-to-text solutions, laptop computers and smartphones/PDAs, and the World Wide Web have all helped reduce how much physical paper needs to be stored and then retrieved.

One of the last remaining technology holdouts that necessitates using actual paper is fax. Although it’s probably fair to say that the majority of document exchanges now occur using e-mail, some companies — for various reasons — find it necessary to keep their fax machines around, and this inevitably creates physical pieces of paper that need to be filed.

Fax is most prevalent in vertical industries that rely heavily on signed documents and forms that can’t easily be filled out electronically. Examples include real estate agencies, insurance companies, law firms, healthcare organizations and mortgage brokers. Although PDFs and other document formats are making it easier to handle forms and signatures electronically, this technology doesn’t quite bridge the divide yet.

So, what’s a company to do that wants to cut down on the paper generated by faxing? The solution is to use an Internet fax service, which enables that company to receive faxes electronically by e-mail rather than printing them using a fax machine.

Since document management — the storage and retrieval of documents — has largely gone digital, being able to receive and store faxes on a computer can really boost efficiency. Most people already have some system in place for storing electronic documents on a computer and organizing them for quick retrieval later.

Internet faxing is here to stay

Great article about the Internet Fax.

The advance in communications have brought dramatic changes in the way we people live. It has been like this always, with letters, the phone, cellular phones, Internet etc. There’s also an area were big changes are being made as I write this article, I’m talking about fax, Internet fax, the technology that is becoming standard for sending documents to the world.

With Internet fax you are using the power of the Internet to transmit faxes in a digital form, you can of course receive them and you don’t need a fax machine to do all this. Traditional fax machines needed to scan the document to the send it to another machine. The process is similar in the Internet but without the need of machines and paper, and with a better end result.

Traditional fax process involved two fax machines and a phone line, the process was as described above, and you couldn’t send or receive more than one fax at a time. It was a time-consuming process.

Internet changed this and the process is much smoother and quick because to begin you don’t have to print the document before sending it, you can send it directly from your computer. There are Internet fax programs that integrate with popular text editors such as Microsoft Word that let you send the fax from the application itself.

Some say that a drawback to Internet fax is that you need to check your mail to know a fax is on your way. Although this is true with simple Internet faxing, the emergence of fax software has disappeared this problem. Moder software allows you to track and log in real time all your communications.

If you want a speedy, reliable and cheap way to improve your communications, Internet fax is what you are looking for, and it is an industry that is growing rapidly.

Reviews Tout Benefits of Packetel Internet Fax for Individuals, Small Businesses

Hello!

Still reading the site of TMCnet. For today I have chosen the following article about Packetel:

“Packetel, a provider of Web-based communications services for individuals and small businesses, has been getting some positive reviews for its Internet fax offering. This service lets users received an unlimited number of faxes, delivered as e-mail attachments, for $3.95 per month.

Subscribers to Packetel’s Internet fax service get faxes delivered by e-mail, as either PDF or TIFF documents. Documents can be delivered to up to three e-mail addresses, and subscribers can have text message alerts sent to their cell phone when faxes arrive. A local number to which faxes are sent is also included.

This Internet fax service from Packetel is a good value for individuals or small business workers who need an easy, affordable way to receive faxes without having to buy and maintain a fax machine.

FaxCompare.com reviewed Packetel’s Internet fax service and gave it points for being very affordable, and for the fact that it includes unlimited incoming fax pages for the $3.95 per month fee. Some services charge per-page after a ceiling has been reached, so the unlimited feature is a definite plus.

The FaxCompre.com review also noted that Packetel Internet fax subscribers get one free month of service if they sign up for a year, and two free months if they sign up for 24 months. A free, 5-day trial is included for those who want to try out the service before they buy.

Internet Fax Review also gave Packetel’s Internet fax service points for addressing the needs of individual or small business subscribers who don’t need a lot of frills — just an affordable way to receive faxes over the Internet.

The Internet Fax Review summary of Packetel’s Internet fax service also noted that a PDF attachment is a PDF attachment, regardless of how much one pays for it — and Packetel offers a good value for delivering documents in this standard format.

Also, Internet Fax Review pointed out, Packetel doesn’t require signing contracts; this is a simply pay-as-you-go service. (Note: a minimum three-month subscription is required.)”

But after reading this I have found the review about the company whose services I use. Wow, guys! I’m still glad that I have chosen RingCentral!

Internet Fax: The Year in Review, the Year Ahead

Hi, guys!

I have found a very interesting interview on TMCnet. As for me I use RingCentral services and I’m fully satisfied with it.

You’ve probably heard quite a bit about Internet fax services, and maybe you even tried one or more of the offerings out there. TMCnet took a closer look at the technology by asking Frank Tam, President at Packetel, to share his perspective. Packetel offers a variety of telecom services, including Internet fax.

TMCnet: How would you define ”Internet fax” and how is that different, if indeed it is, from how ”Internet fax” might have been defined a year ago?

FT: Honestly, the definition of  “Internet Fax” is not much different than a year ago, but the technology does have more presence and is replacing traditional fax machines at an exponential pace.

TMCnet: What were some of the 2007 highlights for Packetel?

FT: During 2007, we gained even more customer satisfaction, becoming a highly reputable “Internet Fax” company. We also able to maintain our low monthly subscription rate to benefit customers. And, we added even more geographical coverage, now serving customers in Utah and Tennessee.  Plus, we now accept two new types of payment: “Verify by Visa” and “Master Card Secure Code.”

TMCnet: How do you place those highlights in the broader Internet fax market?

FT: Offering the lowest prices, the best quality and reliability—that says it all!

TMCnet: If you had to pick one event or development that occurred during 2007 that had an impact on the Internet fax market, what would it be?

FT: The most important impact is realization on the part of customers regarding how convenient Internet fax is compared to traditional fax. This shift is a significant one that’s driving the growth of the whole Internet fax industry.

TMCnet: In terms of technology, what changes did you see during 2007 for the Internet fax market?

FT: Internet fFax technology is already very mature, and there are not many technical changes needed. But, Internet fax will blend into today’s mobile technology and make receiving a fax on a mobile device seamless.

TMCnet: In terms of business practices, what changes did you see during 2007 for the Internet fax market?

FT: Customers seem more concerned about reliability than price. Also, they’re happier and more satisfied when they are able to get a hold of a life customer service rep instead of a series of voice prompts.

TMCnet: Looking broadly at all the customer feedback Packetel received during 2007, what trends do you see emerging?

FT: We see better customer service, coupled with easy-to-use technology as an emerging trend.

TMCnet: Looking ahead to 2008, what changes do you predict for the Internet fax market—both in terms of technology and business practices?

FT: In the future, Internet fax will be an essential tool for day-to-day mobile lifestyle. People will receive graphical and text faxes from their PDA, cell phone and portable laptop around the globe. Customer service will go back to the way it was 10-20 years ago: being able to talk to a live rep.