Broadcast faxing is the process of using a computer to deliver one or more documents to multiple recipients at the same time. Broadcast faxing is typically used by people who send out items like press releases and newsletters. They achieve a similar job to sending an email out to a mailing list. The difference is that the recipients receive a hard copy of the documents rather than a digital copy.
Broadcast faxing can be simulated by a fax machine, particularly by those with speed dials. However, sending out this type of fax via a fax machine can make the machine unavailable for a long time. For many companies, this is not acceptable. Fax broadcasts are usually achieved by using a faxing service. These services receive your order online. They then send out your order in bulk via the Internet. Broadcast fax services generally charge you for each page that you ask them to send.
The major broadcast fax companies include Xpedite, Boomerang, Faxts Telysis, Faxts Now and Smart Source. Each of these companies offers different features and pricing. Smart Source is the cheapest of the five, costing as little as 2.5c per page if you send out a large order. However, their price per page goes as high as 12c per page for small orders. All of the other fax broadcast companies charge between 6c and 15c per page.
Boomerang are the dearest of the five in terms of price per page. They also charge $150 to set up an account. The other companies allow you to set up for free. However, Boomerang offers a range of features not offered by the others, such as online real-time statistics. Boomerang are well suited to companies who will do large and frequent broadcasts.
Each of these services are fairly easy to use. You first upload the pages to be faxed to the fax broadcaster’s website. You then provide them with the mailing list associated with the fax order. Some of the providers allow you to specify a list of numbers that should not receive the fax. All of this, including making payments, is done online.
Broadcast faxing has become a popular alternative to mass direct mail post-outs as it saves both time and money. Recipients receive their documents immediately, and there are no costs associated with postage, paper and printing. It was once predicted that email would make fax broadcasting obsolete, but it has turned out that many people still prefer to receive their correspondence in a paper and ink format.