UK e-mail faces fax of life

The fax machine is still dominant and e-mail is still regarded as too complicated and inconvenient by large and medium-sized UK firms, according to a Gallup report for Pitney Bowes.

About 70 per cent of medium to large UK companies still rely on the fax for message or document transmissions, according to the report. Around 66 per cent of large companies and 82 per cent of medium companies believe that the fax is the fastest way to generate a response, while 66 per cent and 82 per cent believe it is the easiest method.

The study also showed that although 65 per cent of large companies have installed e-mail, their staff still prefer to fax information because they believe it is more reliable.