In’65 the first commercial fax service was introduced in Paris, 11 years before the invention of the telephone. Since then the fax machine has grown in importance until it is found in almost every office today.
This method lets people deliver and get faxes even if they don’t own a fax machine, because they can use a computer and email services. This resolution is perfect for companies who must maintain a limited budget because it means they don’t have to purchase or rent a fax machine. In addition, they won’t have to pay to maintain it or keep buying more toner, printer cartridges or paper. And it’s a better option for the environment because it significantly reduces how much paper is used, while also making it easy to keep records, since faxes are stored on the computer and it doesn’t need any physical handling or storage area.
Fortunately, technology now offers a better solution than a fax machine for sending and receive fax messages. “Fax to e-mail” technology gives you the functionality of a fax with the speed and confidentiality of e-mail. Messages can be sent from any location and received anywhere else without the need for a physical fax machine.
When a fax is sent from a traditional fax machine, the message is router through an e-mail server. The server receives and converts the message into a .tiff picture or a PDF file. The pages include time, date and sender information on each page, just like a traditional fax. The file can be viewed on any computer, including not just Windows PCs, but MACs, Linux, and others. The sender of the fax receives a delivery confirmation just like with a traditional fax.
To send a fax from a computer, simply format an e-mail with text or images. The e-mail fax service will convert the e-mail into fax format and transmit it on the recipient’s fax machine. The sender also receives a delivery confirmation to help with tracking and record keeping. No additional hardware or software is needed. Faxes can be send and received from almost any e-mail program, whether a corporate program or a personal e-mail account. All that is need is an Internet connection and an e-mail account. With it, a fax can be accessed from anywhere in the world.
The fax to email collaboration is the ideal communication tool. Coupled with free installation, set up, training and support creates one efficient, cost-effective solution to business communication issues.
The recipient is given a phone number to which all faxes are sent. The sender pays a small fee to send the message. The recipient does not pay anything to receive the fax. This makes it very cost-effective, as they are charged on usage, a pay-as-you-need expense. “Fax to e-mail” is a simple, efficient and cost-effective way to combine two vital communication tools into one solution.
Graham McKenzie is a content syndicator for a leading UK Fax 2 E-mail service provider.