Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Enterprise Application Integration with Internet Fax Service

What is an internet fax?
Internet Fax (also known as e fax, 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 Need
Enterprise Resource Planning System requires employees to fax in receipts of certain purchased items.
Internet Fax Service is considered because its:
  • Lower Cost
  • More efficient use of time
  • More reliable
  • Environmentally Responsible
  • Security

Tested Internet Fax Service (MetroFax)
MetroFax lets you send and receive faxes via e-mail or by printing to fax from your Microsoft Windows applications. A monthly charge of $12.95 includes up to 1,000 pages of combined inbound or outbound faxes. Also supports Mac and PDAs. (3 cents per additional page.) An additional $2 per month per line gets you a toll-free inbound fax number. (There's also a $9.95 setup fee.) It's easy to add extra fax numbers (with discounts for six or more) allowing each employee to have their own fax number that delivers faxes directly to their e-mail account.

MetroFax Screen Shots

Dashboard provides accesses to frequently used functions


Select “SEND A FAX” to start the fax sending process
1. Add recipients
- Fill in the Fax Number (e.g. 1-866-248-8308)
- Fill in the Name (e.g. ERMS)
- Fill in the Company (e.g. General Motor Corp.)
2. Attach documents
- Click “Browse…” button
- Browse to the file that needs to be faxed over
- Select the file (Note: The first page of the file mast be transmittal page. All receipts can be part of the file, or receipts can have their own files)



3. Cover page options
- Make sure “None” is selected
4. Delivery options
- Click “Send Now” button to deliver the fax

Email Notification
An Email will be sent after the fax is sent successfully.Check sent faxes status:All sent faxes are displayed in list format. Sent pages (page text in PDF format) can be viewed by click (+) Icon.


Cost comparison between different Internet Fax Services:
1. MetroFax.com: $12.95/Month up to 1000 outgoing fax pages

2. GoFaxer.com $24.95/Month up to 1200 fax pages
3. RingCentral.com $24.99/Month up to 1000 outgoing fax pages
4. MaxEmail.com: $7.00/Month up to 250 outgoing fax pages
5. RapidFax.com: $9.95/Month up to 300 outgoing fax pages
6. FaxAge.com: $7.95/Month up to 150 outgoing fax pages
7. MyFax.com: $10/Month up to 100 outgoing fax pages
8. eFax.com: $16.95/Month up to 15 outgoing fax pages

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for sharing this informative information. Its really helpful for me and others who want to know more about internet faxing and using that services you can Send a fax to Amazon Customer Support.

    ReplyDelete