Part of running a business requires both sending and receiving faxes. I typically send and receive business contracts and other items that require signatures for verification once every couple of months. I wanted a solution that allowed me to send and receive faxes from anywhere, but charged me purely on usage.
The Internet is not short on web sites that set you up with "virtual fax machines". Most of the sites charge monthly subscription fees for their services, ranging from $10-$20 per month for basic accounts. Since I have such a low frequency of fax usage, this solution did not work for me.
Recently I've discovered a way to pay per fax sent over the Interet instead of the recurring fee, so my costs match my usage. Receiving is even better, I've coupled my solution with one of the traditional faxing websites for receiving all my faxes for free with a private number.
Sending Faxes
PamFax: http://www.pamfax.com/
- Requires Installation
- Requires Skype (Which I already have as part of my placeless office ensamble)
- Has a nice "Portal" interface to view your fax history.
Receiving Faxes
jConnect: http://www.j2.com/
- Sign up for "JConnect Free" and get a dedicated number and unlimited receives.
- Beware of assaults of "Upgrade to Premier" at every turn. (A good example on ramming it down a users throat)
- Don't install j2 Messenger to read your faxes... First, it's a horrible interface. Second you just don't need it. When you get the file in your email of a received fax, save the file with the PNG extention.
- Aside from that, the service works very well and serves my purpose!
Before today, I would just run out to Staples and pay per page. Sorry Staples... Also beware of http://www.faxdigits.com/ for receiving, my first attempt the number was busy (and they state it is never busy) and the second attempt never showed up in my inbox.
