| Revision as of 15:57, 4 October 2006 editPeyre (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users7,767 editsm →User interfaces← Previous edit | Revision as of 19:57, 27 October 2006 edit undo204.11.170.3 (talk) replaced with efax/e-fax description rather than fax server, which is really not relevant.Next edit → | ||
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| '''eFax''' is a service of ] that allows users to receive and send ] ]s in ] format (e.g., in one's ]) rather than at a traditional ] fax machine. | |||
| {{Mergefrom|EFax|Talk:EFax|date=September 2006}} | |||
| Similar ] faxing services include , , , and . | |||
| A '''fax server''' is a set of ] running on a ] which is equipped with one or more ]-capable ]s attached to telephone lines (or, more recently, software modem emulators which use ] ("Fax over IP") technology to transmit the signal over an IP network). Its function is to accept documents from users, convert them into faxes, and transmit them, as well as to receive fax calls and either store the incoming documents or pass them on to users. Users may communicate with the server in several ways, through either a local network or the ]. In a big organisation with heavy fax traffic, the computer hosting the fax server may be dedicated to that function, in which case the computer itself may also be known as a fax server. | |||
| == |
== History == | ||
| eFax began as a service of JetFax, Inc., which in the ]s and 90s manufactured and sold JetFax fax machines. In early 1999, JetFax changed its name to eFax.com, Inc. and began to offer the eFax electronic fax service. During the dotcom boom, their stock shot up but fell during the bust and they ran out of funds. eFax.com was acquired by j2 Global Communications in late 2000. j2 Global, which at the time was called JFAX.COM, then changed its name and focused its business around the eFax service which quickly became the flagship service of the company. Today, there are currently over 10 million eFax customers. The service is available through toll-free numbers and also through local numbers in over 2,000 cities in 31 countries. | |||
| For outgoing faxes, several methods are available to the user: | |||
| * An ] message (with optional ]) can be sent to a special e-mail address; the fax server monitoring that address converts all such messages into fax format and transmits them. | |||
| * The user can tell his computer to "print" a document using a "]" which, instead of producing a ] printout, sends the document to the fax server, which then transmits it. | |||
| * A ] interface can be used, allowing files to be uploaded, and trasmitted to the fax server for faxing. | |||
| * Special ] may be used. | |||
| For incoming faxes, several user interfaces may be available: | |||
| * The user may be sent an e-mail message for each fax received, with the pages included as attachments, typically in either ] or ] format. | |||
| * Incoming faxes may be stored in a dedicated file ], which the user can monitor. | |||
| * A ] may allow users to ] and check for received faxes. | |||
| * Special client software may be used. | |||
| ==Advantages over paper fax machines== | |||
| * Users can send and receive faxes without leaving their desks. | |||
| * Any printable computer file can be faxed, without having to first print the document on paper. | |||
| * The number of fax lines in an organisation can be reduced, as the server can queue large numbers of faxes and send each when any of a number of lines is free. | |||
| * Faxing capability can be added easily to computer programs, allowing automatic generation of faxes. | |||
| * Transmitted faxes are more legible and professional-looking. | |||
| * There is less clutter of office equipment; incoming faxes can be printed on a standard computer printer. | |||
| * Faxing may be monitored and/or recorded, so that users may be allocated quotas or charged fees, or to ensure compliance with ] laws. | |||
| * Incoming ]es are not as much of a problem; the server may maintain a ] of numbers it will not accept faxes from (or a ] listing all the numbers it will accept calls from), and those that do get through do not waste paper. | |||
| ==Public fax servers ("internet faxing")== | |||
| There are many companies ("internet fax providers") operating fax servers as a commercial public service. Subscribers can interact with the servers using methods similar to those available for standard fax servers, and would be assigned a dedicated fax number for as long as they maintain their subscription. Fees are normally charged on a flat monthly rate, with a limit on the number of fax pages sent and/or received. Organisations, and individuals in particular, may find this more convenient or cost-effective than operating their own fax systems. | |||
| ==Integrated fax programs== | |||
| An integrated fax program is a complete set of faxing software which operates on a single computer which is equipped with a fax-capable modem connected to a telephone line. Its user interfaces may be similar to those used to communicate with fax servers, except that since the entire operation takes place on the user's computer the user may be made more aware of the progress of the transmission. Integrated fax programs are aimed at consumers and small organisations, and may sometimes be ] with the computer's operating system. | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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| == External links == | |||
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Revision as of 19:57, 27 October 2006
eFax is a service of j2 Global Communications that allows users to receive and send fax documents in digital format (e.g., in one's email) rather than at a traditional paper fax machine.
Similar Internet faxing services include Send2Fax, Unifax, JConnect, FaxPipe and MyFax.
History
eFax began as a service of JetFax, Inc., which in the 80s and 90s manufactured and sold JetFax fax machines. In early 1999, JetFax changed its name to eFax.com, Inc. and began to offer the eFax electronic fax service. During the dotcom boom, their stock shot up but fell during the bust and they ran out of funds. eFax.com was acquired by j2 Global Communications in late 2000. j2 Global, which at the time was called JFAX.COM, then changed its name and focused its business around the eFax service which quickly became the flagship service of the company. Today, there are currently over 10 million eFax customers. The service is available through toll-free numbers and also through local numbers in over 2,000 cities in 31 countries.