Online Fax Services How to Compare the Different Fax Plans Correctly
By: Titus Hoskins
Submitted: 2011-08-22 18:44:24 | Word Count: 743
Everyone has heard the popular saying: "Comparing Apples to Oranges" which usually refers to the comparison of two unlike things that really can't be compared. Many people make the same mistake with comparing online fax providers - they sometimes confuse fax plans with fax providers. However, to get a true understanding of the service you're signing up for; you must compare faxing plans to faxing plans and not mix it up with comparing plans to providers.
Now that you're probably totally confused, further explanation is needed to help everyone understand the difference and what things you have to consider when buying any fax plan.
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What probably confuses most people is that each Internet Fax Provider can have 3 or 4 different fax plans. For instance, most fax providers have an inexpensive entry level plan for individuals or companies who only do a minimum amount of faxing each month. Next, most providers have a medium fax plan which caters to those who want to do more faxing over the course of the month. Lastly, most providers have a robust or unlimited fax plan which caters to businesses or companies which send and receive a high volume of faxes within a month, obviously these fax plans are the most expensive and can be customized to suit each company's unique fax needs.
Another issue that confuses some buyers, many fax providers have a way for their customers to save money by purchasing the annual subscription to their fax plans. This is a common business practice, and it can save you money if you pay for the whole year instead of paying monthly. However, it can be confusing if you see two prices or rates listed for the same fax plan, just remember the lower price will refer to the annual rate.
Perhaps, even more confusing, is the whole issue of how many "free" faxes you are allotted with any given plan. You will often see 300 faxes per month with a fax plan, and this is usually a combined number which refers to both incoming and outgoing faxes. However, with some fax plans this monthly number of faxes could be divided up, for example you're allowed 200 incoming faxes and 100 outgoing faxes. In other words, you must check any plan to see not only how many faxes are included in the monthly rate but whether or not your plan includes a "certain number" of incoming or outgoing faxes. You have to make sure you're comparing apples to apples here.
One of the most important items to check when buying any fax plan is the overage charge which you have to pay when you go over your monthly limit of faxes. This charge can range anywhere from 3 cents to 10 cents... might not seem like a lot but these amounts, like your phone bill, can add up quickly. And to confuse you even more, some of these fax providers charge different overage rates depending on whether or not you're receiving or sending a fax. For example, if you go over your fax limit, it might cost 5 cents to receive a fax but 10 cents to send one. And if that wasn't enough to get your head spinning... some fax providers charge by the minute rather than by the fax. It is usually assumed it takes one minute to send a fax but larger faxes can take longer and you will be charged by the time rather than the fax.
Another feature you must check with each plan is the number of users it can have. Most fax plans will let you have 1-5 users, sometimes referred to the number of email accounts associated with the plan. Keep in mind, online fax is using your email system and your web connection to send and receive your faxes as email attachments.
Thankfully, a few other features, such as Support Hours, Set-up Fees, Corporate Plans and Free 30 Day Trials are much easier to check or compare. They are all straightforward but you should compare all of these before you sign-up to any one fax plan or provider.
Hopefully, this brief discussion of all the different things you must check, has given you a better picture of the different fax plans on the market and how to compare them. While it is always wise to check out the reputation of the different fax providers, carefully examining the different plans will help you decide which online fax service plan is the right one for you or your company.
Author Resource:-
For more information on Internet Fax Services use this handy online fax Comparison Guide: http://www.onlinefaxguide.com Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing try here: http://www.internetfaxingonline.com. Titus Hoskins Copyright. This article may be freely distributed.
