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View Full Version : Faxing via the Internet?


LeafWind
05-08-1999, 06:35 PM
Does anyone send or receive faxes via the internet, or know anything about it?[nbsp][nbsp]

This is actually a two-part question:

1) How can you set up a puter to send and receive faxes through the computer, not using a separate fax machine?[nbsp][nbsp]About three years ago, I worked in a qc lab where this was done, so I know the technology has been around for a while, but I'm not sure how it works.[nbsp][nbsp]With whatever they used, the fax would show up on the screen in the program they used, and they could save it and/or use the printer to print off a copy if they wished.[nbsp][nbsp]Sending faxes could also be done entirely on-screen, then sent like an email, but it ended up coming out through a fax machine on the other end.[nbsp][nbsp]

If anyone knows, I would appreciate knowing what's involved in setting this up (software, type of connection, how you get a fax number for your puter, etc).[nbsp][nbsp]I'd rather not put a fax machine on our phone line as we like to keep voice mail on it, and I'm looking for a cheaper solution for occasional use than getting a second phone line.[nbsp][nbsp]We don't own a fax machine, either, so if we can avoid buying one, all the better.

If it matters, the puter(s) to be used are on cable modems, but they still have fax-modems installed (though we don't currently have a dial-up provider).

2) A local web design company advertises "get responses from your website sent directly to your fax machine" -- implying it's set up in a form mail script somehow.[nbsp][nbsp]Or maybe it gets routed to their office and they forward it from there, I don't know the details.[nbsp][nbsp]Does anyone know how this could be accomplished?[nbsp][nbsp]Just curious.

Thanks . . .

Bekariso

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Growing web sites that thrive in the winds of change.

kteicher
05-08-1999, 11:47 PM
Hmm, for sending try Symantec's Winfax.[nbsp][nbsp]For occassional receives you might try the FREE service at www.efax.com (http://www.efax.com)

Stephen
05-09-1999, 04:20 PM
Here's another free fax number service for receiving only: www.callwave.com (http://www.callwave.com)

The fax is translated into a compressed image and sent to you as an email. Here's the email you receive from them when you sign up:

Congratulations! You are now subscribed to the FaxWave service. Your new personal fax telephone number is: (blah blah blah)

FaxWave will deliver your faxes to this email address. Faxes sent to your number will arrive as email attachments, just like the sample fax attached to this message.

To get started viewing faxes on your PC, please click on the
attachment. On many Windows PCs you can open and view this file using the Microsoft "Imaging" software pre-installed on your PC.

If you're unable to open the file from your email inbox, we
suggest you save it to disk and verify that you have the required viewing software. You can find the software by clicking on Start, and looking under Programs/Accessories for "Imaging." If you do not see the "Imaging" software under Accessories, instructions for down loading this software are available at http://www.callwave.com/fwhelpframe.html.

Macintosh users follow a similar process but require a different viewing program. Information on downloading this program, called GraphicConverter from Lemke Software can be found at http://www.lemkesoft.de/us_gcdownload.html

If you need help viewing your fax or have other questions, please send an email to support@callwave.com.

Thanks again for becoming a FaxWave customer.

Sincerely,
CallWave Customer Service

Mandi
05-11-1999, 07:30 PM
I like efax for receives . . . lets me have a Fax contact # for my site, and it comes via email attachment.[nbsp][nbsp]You'll need their small app to read the attachments.[nbsp][nbsp]It's a cool thing![nbsp][nbsp]Gotta work on getting my fax SEND operable again . . . haven't seen any internet-based fax "sends" - just receive.[nbsp][nbsp]*Sigh*[nbsp][nbsp]I searched a BUNCH, too . . .
[This message has been edited by Mandi (edited 05-11-99)]

jelevin
05-11-1999, 08:12 PM
In the past I've used faxaway (www.faxaway.com) to send faxes.[nbsp][nbsp]They will convert e-mail text or attachments such as word documents and deliver them via fax.[nbsp][nbsp]This was several years ago, I'm sure there are more now.

JE
06-15-1999, 12:44 PM
If you want to sample eFax out, give my# a shot
(954)301-5789

Yep, that's right the #'s are not local. I live here in Brooklyn NY, and have a FL #.....hahahahahahhahahahahahah
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http://www.blazing-hot.com

kysa
07-09-1999, 04:10 PM
jfax.com

you can choose free voice or email services... or, for $12/mo, you can get both for incoming and outbound messages with your own phone number... choose incoming call voice/fax numbers from 60 cities around the world

i've been *very* happy... very easy and cheap for outbound faxing