Q: I’m just setting up my office, is it still worth buying a fax machine? Do people still use faxes or are there better technologies out there?
Aug 22 2007
Answered by: Chris Lindsay Ask a question
The answer is, it really depends on which industry or sector you work in and whether you use a fax regularly. More traditional sectors, such as law and manufacturing, still use faxes to exchange documents and information, but there are a number of other options available.
Using the same technology as VoIP, Fax over Internet Protocol (FoIP) services allow you to send and receive faxes via your computer. Documents can either be scanned or sent from file, using an electronic fax application – either included in the operating system or from the service provider. You will then receive any documents sent to your fax number via email. This means that you can send and receive faxes wherever you have an internet connection.
Another option, if you’re sending a lot of contracts that just require a signature, is to use an electronic signature service like BT eSignature. These are fully compliant with the UK Electronic Signatures Act, which gives electronic contracts the same weight as those executed on paper, and will allow you to get documents electronically signed in seconds, without the need for paperwork to be posted or faxed back. The other benefit is that the software automates the entire contracting process from requesting a signature to the distribution, filing and backup of any document.
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