What Exactly Is A Softphone?

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If you’re thinking about how to implement a modern communications system for your business, you’ve probably encountered a range of different services and products that take advantage of Internet technology. One of those tools is a softphone, which is simply a software program that allows you to make calls over the Internet with your computer using Voice over IP technology (VoIP).

Softphones are becoming a popular choice for businesses, since they make it easy to manage calls and faxes from a computer. Although anyone with a computer can use a softphone, those who travel frequently, frequent long-distance callers, and telecommuters can particularly benefit from some of the features. VoIP beginners are also good candidates for softphones; it’s easy to download VoIP software and make free computer-to-computer or computer-to-phone calls.

Softphones may include a headset or hand-held handset, and users dial from the keyboard. Sometimes softphones also work with an analog telephone adaptor that lets users make VoIP calls from a standard telephone handset. Popular softphone services include Skype and Google Hangouts, although many communications companies offer their own softphone services.

Softphone system feature benefits often include:

  • The ability to screen calls, either with an auto-receptionist, or by displaying the name and number of the caller.
  • Call routing that can send calls to voicemail, or transfer live calls to another phone.
  • Interrupting messages as they’re being recorded to take calls
  • Call recording and downloading of recorded calls.
  • Integration with software like Microsoft Outlook
  • Faxing capability that lets you sign, send, and receive faxes.

Most softphone systems require a PC or Mac with a current operating system. Users simply have to install the software of whatever system they’ve chose to use, and are then able to begin making calls.

 

 

Six of the Coolest Features VoIP Phone Systems Offer

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Many businesses now choose Voice over Internet Protocol systems in order to save money and streamline communications services. VoIP, sometimes also called Internet telephony, offers a lot of enticing features for companies seeking easy and sophisticated communications services. VoIP systems are known to be user-friendly for employees, come with good customer service, and mean less clunky hardware. But there’s a host of other great features you might not know about VoIP systems that are worth noting.

  • Use your business phone number anywhere: phone numbers and extensions aren’t tied to the line, so employees working from home, or on the road, or on a job site, can still make and receive calls anywhere. Some companies, like RingCentral, offer smartphone apps so that you can take VoIP calls over Wi-Fi or a 4G network without using carrier minutes.
  • Voice mail features: voice mail to email transcription turns your voice mail messages to text and sends them to your email, so you can catch up on them at your own pace. Some systems also allow you to listen to a voice mail and interrupt to take the call if you choose.
  • Security integration: if you work in a business with a locked entrance, this features integrates a door buzzer into the phone, so you can converse with visitors and unlock the door from your phone.
  • Sharing and conferencing: some systems, like ShoreTel Sky, allow you to conduct peer-to-peer video chats, launch a desktop sharing session during an audio or video chat, and send files as you’re talking.
  • Fax viewing options: receive email or web alerts that you have a fax or voice mail waiting for you. VirtualPBX handles incoming faxes automatically, and will send faxes and voice messages to an email address of your choice. Instead of checking multiple places for messages, you can receive them all through your email.
  • Easily create new lines: Many providers allow businesses to set up new extensions with separate voice mail messages.

Read more here for further information on finding the right VoIP provider.

Android Faxing Apps

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Send and Receive Faxes Directly from Your Android Device

An online fax service gives many small businesses the ability to send and receive faxes without being tied to a landline. More and more online fax services have also started offering smartphone apps, which let you do your faxing right from your phone, instead of going through a website or email. We wrote recently about faxing services that provide iPhone apps; here we’ve featured services that offer Android apps.

(Note: each company’s app is free, but you must be a subscriber of their service to use it.)

 

Feature Image-MetroFax

MetroFax: MetroFax‘s Value and Essential plans, which allow for 500 and 1,000 pages per month respectively, come with an Android app which lets you turn your phone into a fax machine by either faxing attachments from your phone, or snapping a picture of a document to fax. The app also allows you to view sent faxes, use contact information on your phone to address faxes, and forward faxes to another fax number or email address, and it supports cloud based printing.

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RingCentral: RingCentral’s app lets users send and receive faxes by accessing photos, email attachments and cloud storage (Dropbox & Box). One significant limitation is that although RingCentral gives you the ability to e-sign documents using their softphone, desktop application, you can’t e-sign faxes using the app. On the flip side, if you are a RingCentral Professional or Office customer, the app also lets you manage your business phone system from your Android. Phone system features of the app include showing your RingCentral business number as caller ID when you make calls, business SMS feature to send and receive texts with your local RingCentral number, and the ability to make VoIP calls over WiFi without using carrier minutes.

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eFax: This app lets users create and send faxes with a phone camera, cloud storage or email attachments, and also lets you sign faxes with your finger on the touchscreen, or take a picture of your signature and use that. It also lets you print faxes directly from your phone or tablet using Google Cloud Print.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cheapest Fax Services

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Most online fax services are cheap, but THESE are the cheapest!

Better security, ease of use and environmental benefits are major advantages of online faxing over fax machines, but the reason most of us prefer online fax services is simple: they are incredibly inexpensive. If cost is your number one concern when selecting an online fax service, this article is for you.

Lowest Monthly Fee: SmartFax LocalSmartFax logo

 At $6.95 per month, SmartFax is extremely affordable. The plan includes an assigned local fax number, 250 inbound and outbound pages (additional pages cost $0.08 each), 30 days of free online fax storage, international faxing, and a free 30-day trial: SmartFax Local Comparison

Lowest Annual Fee: Nextiva Single UserNextiva Logo

With an annual discount for paying for an entire year up front, the Single User plan from Nextiva comes out to $4.95 per month. With that plan, you get 500 pages per month, up to five users in the plan, and a 30-day free trial period. Nextiva also gives you the choice of getting a toll-free number for $9.95: Nextiva Single User Comparison

Lowest Monthly Cost/ Page: MetroFax EssentialMetroFaxLogo (2)

MetroFax’s Essential plan runs $7.95 per month – $6.63 per month with an annual discount – and includes 500 in or outbound pages per month. This works out to 1.59 cents per page: MetroFax Essential Comparison. However, if you’re willing to pay for a year in advance, Nextiva’s Single User plan also offers 500 pages per month and is $59.40 per year (the equivalent of $4.95 per month). That works out to just under 1 cent per page: Nextiva Single User Comparison

iPhone Faxing Apps

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Turn Your iPhone into a Fax Machine

For many small businesses, an online fax service gives the ability to send and receive faxes without being tied to a landline. Increasingly, online fax services are also offering iPhone apps, which let you do your faxing right from your phone, instead of going through a website or email.

Here’s a roundup of some of the fax services that offer iPhone apps, and the features that make them stand out. (Note: each company’s app is free, but you must be a subscriber of their service to use it.)

MetroFax Mobile AppMetroFax: MetroFax has won high praise from reviewers for its excellent all-around value. Its iPhone app lets you turn your phone into a fax machine by either faxing attachments from your phone, or snapping a picture of a document to fax. The app also allows you to view sent faxes, use contact information on your phone to address faxes, and forward faxes to another fax number or email address. (Compare MetroFax Pricing and Features)

 

 

 

 

RingCentral: RingCentral offers a single app that works with all of their products (Fax, Professional and Office), therefore it includes faxing features along with the phone system features that you can use, if you sign up for one of their voice plans. The app lets users send and receive faxes by accessing photos, email attachments and cloud storage. Voice features (applicable only if you are a Professional or Office subscriber) of the app include showing your RingCentral business number as caller ID when you make calls, business SMS feature to send and receive texts with your local RingCentral number, and the ability to make VoIP calls over WiFi without using carrier minutes. (Compare RingCentral Pricing and Features)

 

eFax Mobile AppeFax: Offering two methods of e-signing make this the most robust fax app offered by any fax service. eFax’s iPhone app not only lets users create and send faxes with a phone camera, cloud storage or email attachments, but it also lets you sign faxes with your finger on the touchscreen or take a picture of your signature to insert anywhere it’s required. The app also lets you use cover sheets and contact lists and share faxes via email as PDF attachments. (Compare eFax Pricing and Features)

 

 

 

 

MyFax Mobile AppMyFax: This app will enhance images you take with your camera before sending them out, and it also lets you fax documents from cloud storage. Users can add search tags to individual faxes and archive them for easy access later, and if you need to print, the app lets you print faxes to AirPrint-enabled printers. (Compare MyFax Pricing and Features)

 

 

 

 

 

MaxEmail Mobile AppMaxEmail: MaxEmail’s iPhone app allows users to take a picture of your document, and also lets you attach PDF files directly from your DropBox, Google Drive, or any WebDav service. Like eFax’s, this app gives you the ability to create a custom signature stamp that allows you to sign fax documents, and means you don’t have to print, sign and re-scan documents. (Compare MaxEmail Pricing and Features)

Concord Fax Expands It’s International Presence

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Concord Fax Logo

Concord Fax recently announced that they now provide local fax service in 50 countries, including key markets in South America, Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia.  Although Concord offers a small/ mid size business fax solution, they compete primarily for larger, corporate accounts against products like eFax Corporate Solutions.  This international expansion makes them more attractive to businesses with international offices in these regions, because they can now consider Concord a complete solution for all of their corporate faxing needs.

Concord’s “Fax Online” service for Medium to Large Enterprises features API access for customization and integration, custom Microsoft suite integration, a redundant network, online administration and a production fax solution for high-volume documents. They also provide full-service technical support and customer service.  Concord also offers two “FaxPro” options for small businesses: FaxPro 100 and FaxPro 300.  As the names imply, these two packages offer 100 included fax pages or 300 included fax pages for $10.95/ month and $14.95/ month respectively.  While the quality of these services may be fine (we haven’t tested them), they come at a high price relative to the competition in this market. Using FaxCompare filter page, it’s easy to see that 10 companies offer plans including 2-5 users (Concord includes 5) that include at least 300 pages for $10/month or less.  Here is a link to the filter page set with those criteria.

However, Concord’s “Fax Online” enterprise option is a welcome competitor in a less crowded market. It’s much more difficult to build the infrastructure to serve a company with international needs, and Concord has positioned themselves well to do so.

MetroFax is Acquired by j2Global

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MetroFaxLogo (2)

MetroFax, a prominent online fax service, was acquired by j2Global this past month. j2Global is a world leader in the virtual communication industry, focusing on cloud-based services such as online fax, email marketing, online backup, and virtual voice, among others. They are the parent company of well-known services such as eFax (a competitor of MetroFax), as well as Campaigner, eVoice, and KeepItSafe.

MetroFax has consistently been one of the lowest priced and reliable online fax services. With features including the ability to fax to international numbers, iPhone and Android Apps, and Microsoft Office integration, MetroFax has long been a FaxCompare favorite.

j2Global has been expanding at an incredible rate, with a record-breaking year in 2012. They currently hold 39.8% of the internet faxing market share, with brands including eFax, MyFax, and Fax.com. The eFax brand still stands as its primary focus. Acquiring a service as feature-rich as MetroFax will hopefully push j2Global to expand these features to their other online-faxing brands.

[Learn more about MetroFax]

Media

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Media Page

Contact Info:

For all media inquiries please send an email to admin@faxcompare.com, and we will reply within one business day.  If you need to reach someone immediately, you may reach the Zilker Ventures Media Department at 512-448-9031×120.


Founder’s Bio:

LeoLeo Welder founded Zilker Ventures, LLC in September, 2007.  Zilker Ventures operates and manages a family of websites that provide comparisons and information about business and productivity tools. FaxCompare.com joined that family in November 2012.

Since founding Zilker Ventures, Mr. Welder has built successful comparison websites in the online fax, email marketing, virtual pbx, and tax software industries.  He also launched ChooseWhat.com, The Entrepreneur’s Startup Guide, which provides would be entrepreneurs with detailed how-to’s, comparisons, STARTicles (tactical articles for startups), and a user forum to aide them on the road to becoming successful business owners.  Having spent countless hours working on the structure and content of this site, Mr. Welder has developed a deep understanding of the landscape of the productivity and business tools available today.

Mr. Welder has also served on several charity and community boards and utilizes his business experience to improve those organizations.  Most notably, he served on the Young Men’s Business League/ Austin Sunshine Camps board (two organizations with a common board) from 2006-2013, including President of the Board in 2012.  During his service, he worked with a team to build an email driven fundraising system that raises nearly $400,000 per year for the Sunshine Camps.  He also built a custom project management system for the organization as well as implemented an online document retention system.  Welder is currently helping build the Dr. Berny Rothschild Foundation and has served on community boards including the New Milestones Foundation, the Hill Country Conservancy, and The Circuit of the Americas Host Committee.

Mr. Welder is also an expert in online marketing and search engine optimization.  Before founding Zilker Ventures, Mr. Welder spent 3 years with Apogee Search, helping the firm grow from 4 to 50 employees, making it one of the largest search engine marketing firms in Texas at the time.

Mr. Welder received his MBA in Entrepreneurship from the Acton School of Business in 2004.  He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002 with a BBA in Finance and a BA from the Plan II Honors program.

What makes FAF Different?

FaxCompare was built on the idea that we could make finding an online fax service so easy that it’s fun.  Our belief is that more people would think technology was as cool as we do, if it was explained and presented to them on their terms.  Technology jargon and industry buzzwords have made web based tools appear unattainable to most normal people.  The mere mention of the word “technology” or in some cases “Internet” causes most people to run for cover.  Their experience has told them that they are about to get bombarded with a bunch of words that they don’t understand (and don’t want to understand).

We have made it our mission to illuminate technology, so everyone can see it for what it is: cheap, useful, easy to use, and even a bit cool.  The first industry we’re targeting is online fax, and FaxCompare is our light.

In order to make the process as easy as possible for our users, we gathered all of the information that anyone might need to choose a fax service, measured that information against set benchmarks to make it easy for people to understand what they are reading, and put the power in the hands of our users to filter, sort, and compare the top online fax plans on the market.   Every piece of information on our website is supported by facts and documented research in order to ensure FaxCompare unimpeachable integrity.

We’re constantly working to improve the site.  We’ve started trying to incorporate social cues by letting people “recommend” products that they’ve used, and we’ve even created a Buying Assistant that asks a few simple questions to help a person just beginning their search process narrow down the choices to only those that fit their needs.  We won’t rest until EVERYONE considering buying an online fax service visits our site, before making their decision.

Corporate Structure:

FaxCompare.com is the property of Comparison Website, LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of ChooseWhat Holdings, LLC, which also owns ChooseWhat.com, LLC, FaxCompare.com, LLC, Email-Marketing-Options.com, LLC, PBXCompare.com, LLC, and Tax-Compare.com, LLC.

FaxCompare.com is managed by Zilker Ventures, LLC.  Zilker Ventures, LLC and ChooseWhat Holdings, LLC are wholly owned subsidiaries of Zilker Holdings, LLC.

HelloSign, integrates with Gmail

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Back in 2012, the founders of HelloFax started HelloSign, an electronic signature service that keeps track of all of the documents that you sign.

Recently, HelloSign has integrated with Gmail, making it easier than ever to electronically sign faxes and send them right back. HelloSign for Gmail is a plugin that lets you add your electronic signature to a document without ever leaving Gmail’s interface. When a document is attached to an email, the plugin gives you the option to “Sign”, right next to the options to “View” and “Download”. This opens a separate window side of Gmail that will allow you to add your electronic signature to the document. It also allows you to edit the document as needed.  After signing the document, you just need to hit “Save and attach to email” and you’re ready to send the document back.

[Learn more about HelloFax]