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Home Internet Phone/Fax Services

Internet Phone/Fax Services

The Internet is the ultimate communications resource. And with a PC and these readily available services, you can make domestic and international phone calls for a fraction of the usual cost … and create a personal, private and remotely accessible virtual fax machine.

Dialpad

Dialpad offers unlimited free long-distance phone calls anywhere in the U.S. No downloads are needed, either.

User review: Easy to set up and use, Dialpad is a quick, risk-free way to try PC-to-phone calling without downloads.

Net2Phone

Net2Phone lets users place low-cost telephone calls from their computers, telephones or fax machines to any telephone or fax machine in the world. By routing calls over the Internet, Net2Phone can save users up to 95% on international phone calls. Net2Phone offers PC-to-phone and PC-to-fax services, as well as a Web-based callback service.

User review: Net2Phone is the most popular Internet phone product for good reason: It works reasonably well. One drawback: Voice quality is sometimes sub-par, a problem that most IP-telephony services face.

eFax

eFax Free -- basic fax service -- is exactly that. eFax Plus -- basic service with a few features -- costs $4.95/month.

User reviews: Convenient service, although most hardware already comes with fax-enabling software. eFax Free's incremental value is minimal. eFax Plus' additional services add something, but other unified messaging solutions are more robust. Recommended for users with basic fax needs.

iFaxBroadcaster

Various services available; most with per-minute or per-document billing.

User reviews: : iFax Broadcaster focuses on commercial-grade solutions, such as sending bulk faxes over the Internet. Offers some unique solutions, such as fax to e-mail. Recommendable service for someone with strong faxing needs, but not a great solution for simple, occasional faxing activity.