Internet fax (also known as email fax, online fax and digital fax) utilizes an Internet fax service provider to convert a facsimile transmission into a digital file that can be received via email and vice versa. Internet fax services bridge the gap between the older fax technology, which is well established in today’s business environment, and email transmission of documents. In the simplest terms, when you sign up with an Internet fax service, you will be assigned a dedicated fax phone number that will convert incoming faxes to email attachments that are automatically sent to your email address. The majority of these services also allow you to send attachments (like Word documents, PDF’s, or pictures) to physical fax numbers that are received just as if you had sent them using a standard fax machine. Most Internet fax services will send you your documents in a number of different file formats, such as TIF or PDF files.

The advantages of using Internet faxing are that the users can send and receive as many faxes simultaneously or send all faxes instantly. There is no complexity of a conventional fax machine and those never-ending paper jams. The technology is quick and even cheaper than traditional fax messaging.

Most online fax services support high-level encryption technology. Furthermore, you can designate which email addresses faxes are sent to, which is significantly more secure than having sensitive documents sit in a shared fax machine.

There are several companies Internet faxing services. Most of these companies provide a paid service and a free service. Go to www.faxcompare.com for an “apples to apples” comparison of the top providers.