10 Negative Myths About Online Faxing
The Information Age in which we live exists, to a great extent, because of the Internet, a freewheeling environment with no centralized control or executive editor. For the most part, this is a good thing, since it is pretty well established that many governments are not very good at managing people, technology or budgets. However, the downside is that much of the information obtained online is incomplete, unclear, distorted or just plain wrong. Gaming This holds true for most kinds of content, from news and reportage to marketing communications and even so-called encyclopedia resources.
As online faxing has taken off in the last few years, so have the number of online naysayers and critics, who spread a lot of mis- and dis-information about the supposed weaknesses of the services. There are many more canards and misrepresentations out there, but here we will look at (and promptly dispel) 10 negative myths about online faxing.
1. It is too expensive: When online faxing debuted, like many other new products or services it was a bit pricey. Games There was often a monthly fee with per-page and per-second surcharges. With competition and a maturing technology, costs have plummeted. If you really want to spend more to send and receive faxes, though, just stick to a fax machine and you get to buy paper, toner and ink cartridges, as well as pay for the extra phone line.
2. It is hard to use: This is only true of people who do not use computers at all. The fact is, even beginners on PCs quickly learn the basic things they need to, like sending e-mail and browsing the Web. If you can type and surf the Internet, you can use an online fax service.
3. Computers crash but fax machines do not: The (hopefully) witty riposte to this claim is, “And computers don’t get paper jams.” Frankly, there are plenty of things that can go wrong with fax machines, from phone line noise that interrupts transmissions to the aforementioned (and eternally frustrating) paper jams. Computers actually crash far less than they did even a mere five years ago, as the new Windows and Macintosh operating systems are mature, stable and dependable.
4. Phone lines are more dependable than the Internet: Once upon a time, long ago and far away, this may have been true. However, most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) now guarantee upwards of 99% uptime, which is pretty darned reliable. It is true that, in the event of a general power outage, phone lines will still operate on their separate power supply. This is simply a reason to keep a standalone fax machine as a backup, not a reason to forgo all the benefits of online faxing.
5. Online faxing is less secure: What could be more secure than 128-bit encryption? Fax machines often sit in the middle of a big office, too, where anyone can intercept your sensitive material. Only people thoroughly ignorant of how things really work are still susceptible to the scare tactics that portray the Internet as being ravaged by hackers and spied on by the NSA.
6. There are hidden charges with online fax services: Hiding charges in the fine print, creating complex pricing schemes and generally ripping people off, despite Hollywood’s message that this is what businesspeople do, is not the route to success in a competitive market. There can be hidden or confusing charges in any transaction, but all this means is that you need to read the contracts before signing on the dotted lines (literally and figuratively).
7. Online faxing is incompatible with some computers: This is a real stretch, but people have made the charge. It is palpable nonsense. Any modern computer, running any modern operating system (Windows, Mac, Linux), will have a built-in Web browser, and most likely a free e-mail application, too. These are the two main ways in which you will access and use your online fax account.
8. Filing paper faxes is easier: Filing paper may be easy, but it is no easier than filing something on a computer when you know how (and anyone can learn). It is more accurate to say that people are used to filing paper, just as they are used to reading printed material (see #9, below).
9. Paper faxes are easier to read: This is doubtless true for some bespectacled folks, but with a computer you can enlarge the view until you have inch-high letters, if that is what you want. If it is too difficult for you to read the six-page document on the screen, by all means print it out. With online faxing, you are in charge of how much paper gets used. With fax machines, everyone with your fax number can spend your money, a sheet (or 100) at a time.
10. Faxes do not carry viruses or spyware: Again, the rejoinder could be something like, ‘and you don’t get full of toner with online faxing. ‘Every computer user with even rudimentary skills knows that PCs need anti-virus and anti-malware programs. With online faxing, you can choose to access your account online, through a Web browser, which allows you to read the messages off the service e firm’s server. If it’s not downloaded to your PC, it can’t hurt you. If you opt to receive your online faxes in your e-mail inbox, all you have to do is ensure that your defensive measures are in place. If you are weak in that area, get some help. For the most part, if you get incoming messages from people and firms you know, there will most likely be no problem with viruses, but if there is you are ready.
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