There is a growing interest in IP fax because of the advantages it offers. The IP fax service market, however, is not yet mature. These offerings often portray IP fax as a very low-cost or even free service. If there is no explicit charge for the service, however, it's typically because the provider generates revenues by selling advertising. Subscribers are bombarded with annoying junk faxes and ad banners.
Some services provide a mailbox with free inbound service.
There is a hefty per-page charge, however, for outbound faxes. The majority of these services are consumer oriented and are not equipped to handle large volumes or provide the level of support that businesses require. A new breed of service bureaus is emerging to deliver fax messages through a network of access points much like an Internet Service Provider. Outsourcing can meet this need. The continual supply of new fax technologies means that businesses have many alternatives from which to choose.