Not too long ago it would have seemed strange to have spoken about a dedicated fax machine as being a redundant piece of office equipment as, to many, it was an essential means of immediate communication. People use to marvel at the way that documents could be transmitted by means of a telephone line to reappear seconds later in an office halfway across the world as an exact replica of the original. However, like the typewriter before it, the dedicated fax machine, with its need to constant replenishment of paper and toner, is finally slowly making its way into the world of mechanical history; to soon become a relic that our children will smile at as they wander around the museums of the future.

Today, there is no longer a need to stand in the office equipment superstore and muse over how much you can afford to pay for a fax machine, weighing this up against the value that you will receive from this rather cumbersome piece of equipment and its running cost. The advent of computers and the Internet has finally signalled the death of the standalone fax machine.

Over the past two decades a number of software organisations have developed fax programmes that will enable you to transmit information direct from your computer, using the online facilities of the Internet and e-mail to deliver any document in the same way as the original fax machine. There are manner fax service providers in this market place, including E-fax, MyFax amongst a host of offers. The fees charged by these organisations will be dependent upon the level of usage. For example, E-Fax offers a free account option for small users. However, above this level it may cost you around 10 to 20 cents per fax. Some also charge a set-up fee for the account. Therefore, although this option is certainly a lot cheaper than the cost of running a dedicated fax machine, it is important to study the market for the best deal.

However, there is a cheaper way of getting fax type services into your home or office. This option is available if you have a printer that has scanning facilities. With these types of printers you can scan important documents into your computer and then send them as e-mail attachments. If you choose this option then the cost will be no more than you may already be paying for your e-mail and broadband facilities.

In conclusion therefore, either of the two options described above will enable you to send and receive faxes from your home and office without investing your capital in a dedicated fax machine.

Learn more about this author, Paul Lines.
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