But what exactly is online faxing and why has it become so popular so quickly?

Simply put, Internet fax is using your email system and the web to send and receive all your faxes. First, you have to sign-up to an online fax service provider which acts as an intermediary to handle all your faxing. You are given your own local or Toll-Free fax number and your faxes are sent as email attachments, usually in TIFF or PDF format.

You can send your faxes in several different ways, you can logon to your fax service account (interface) where your faxes are stored and send your faxes from there. Some fax services have a desktop application for faxing or you can use your own email program. Plus you can still use a traditional fax machine to send and/or receive your faxes.

More and more individuals are dishing the old fax machine in favor of their computer and the Internet. Many faxes are now simply sent and received by computers via the web - bringing this common business task into the modern age.

Here are five super reasons why online faxing has become so popular:

Online fax is very convenient to use because it is paperless and inkless. Because there are no more paper jams or messy inks to fool around with - it is quick and fast. Creating your faxes can also be more expedient because you can prepare them on your computer and then quickly send them without bothering with the old traditional fax machine.

Your faxes are accessible anywhere, anytime. Since it is web based, your faxes are available wherever you have Internet access and these days that's just about everywhere. Plus, your old faxes can be stored online or on your computer, so you can access them at any time, whether it is yesterday's fax or one from last month.

Internet faxing is more secure than the traditional way of faxing. Your faxes can be sent encrypted over the web and only you can access them. Unlike the old fax machine, where anyone can read your faxes, online faxing does offer a great deal more privacy.

Sending a fax is as easy as sending an email. You simply attach your fax as a TIFF or PDF file. Viewing your faxes is as easy as reading any PDF file on your computer. Plus, all your old faxes can be stored and ready for your use at any time.

Perhaps, one of the major reasons online faxing has become so popular, is because of the low price. Internet faxing is much cheaper than the old way of faxing - you don't need all that paper, inks and toners which you have to constantly keep in stock with a regular office machine. Plus, you don't need an extra phone line since all your transactions take place over the Internet. Online fax services are relatively inexpensive, monthly plans run for around $4 to $15 a month, depending on your faxing requirements. If your faxing is very minimum, you can get a simple plan for around $20 a year.

Some of the major online fax providers are: eFax®, MyFax, RingCentral, TrustFax, Faxage, MetroFax, RapidFax, Send2Fax... among others. Since this is an on-going business expense, it pays to do your homework now before you sign-up so that you get the right service to perfectly match your needs. It can result in major savings, especially over the long haul.

Regardless of which service or plan you choose, perhaps another underlying reason why Internet fax has become so popular has to do with competitiveness. If your business or company depends on faxing to bring in sales, to deliver orders, to attract new clients, or just for quick business communication; then using a faxing system that's available 24/7, no matter where you're located does make any business more competitive than some one not using this service. In this present business climate and in our "dog-eat-dog" commercial environment; you do need every advantage you can muster. Can you or your company afford NOT to use online fax, that is the real question you have to ask?