Q&A: Do you use an online fax service?
Q: Do you use an online fax service? If not, do you know about any of them? I am thinking about getting rid of our landline, and I need a solution for the faxes.
A: I use the free version of eFax. Pretty decent but for inbound faxes but I still use a real fax machine in the rare cases I send an outbound fax.
A potential downside to the free account is that you usually won't get a local number. In fact, I think the eFax number I was assigned has its area code based in Washington. It still works just fine but you may get a few strange looks when you tell people your fax number.
Apart from that, eFax is a breeze to use. Just give out your free eFax number and when someone sends a fax to that number, it is emailed to you as an eFax attachment. A simple download of the eFax Messenger software (click the Downloads tab) lets you view and/or print your faxes.
As far as outbound faxes go, you can choose to stick to sending them with a traditional fax machine or, if you have a scanner, you can scan your document, save it in PDF format, and send it as an email attachment.
Note: The eFax Free account is really hard to find these days. Almost as if eFax doesn't want you to know about it! Do a Google search for efax free account and you should be able to find it.
5 comments for this blog post so far...
August 24, 2010 at 9:37 am
Andy
In addition to the free account being impossible to find, it is nearly impossible to quit their service if you don’t want to use it in the future. There is no account deletion page and you can’t unsubscribe from their newsletter. I still get their spam in my junk folder.
All in all, I would avoid them.
August 24, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Patric Welch
Andy, I think that sucks that you can’t unsubscribe from their newsletter but I wouldn’t let that be the sole reason people shouldn’t use the free service. I’ve had my eFax number for years and still use it with great success anytime someone wants to send me a fax.
August 31, 2010 at 7:48 am
joe
Try out faxzero..they will allow you a couple of small faxes free per day..they put some advertising on them and you can get full service with a little cash, but use since I only fax once a month or so…
Hope that helps.
Joe
August 31, 2010 at 8:00 am
Patric Welch
Joe, great suggestion. Thanks!
October 20, 2011 at 2:18 pm
online faxing
joe, joe, joe,
You are great brother your suggestion is very very good you solve may problem dear.
Thank you very very much
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