Types of Online Fax Providers

Online fax services are provided by a diverse range of companies. Many are Internet-based cloud faxing enterprises that specialize solely in Internet faxing. Others are unified communications companies that provide phone, voicemail, fax, email, messaging and other forms of communications. Some are cable providers who complement their products with fax to cloud services. Depending on the type of provider, the method of online faxing may differ. This section provides an introduction to the different types of Internet fax providers and the various faxing methods.

Overview of Online Fax Providers

With online fax, an Internet Protocol (IP) network replaces the traditional method of sending and receiving faxes over telephone lines. Internet fax service providers make the fax transmission process seamless using servers, fax gateways and an array of protocols. There are three types of online fax providers that service individuals and businesses. Here’s a look at the infrastructure of each one:

Basic Online Fax Providers: The most common type of online fax service providers, they conduct business solely on the Internet. For a monthly fee, basic Internet fax services provide everything individuals and businesses need to send and receive faxes, including a fax number, fax creation tools and account management capabilities. With this type of provider, you are using your Internet access and the provider’s fax servers for transmitting faxes. A secure Web interface serves as the gateway between the two. Although you need to register for the service and select a monthly plan, no hardware, software, or equipment maintenance is needed.

VoIP PBX Providers: Also known as unified communications providers, these companies provide voice and fax services over the Internet, as well as other communication services. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol (IP), while the fax component is FoIP. Some VoIP providers are online based, while others have both retail and online outlets. A phone adaptor is needed to fax over the Internet and software is necessary for faxing from a computer. Both are typically included in the VoIP service plan. The VoIP provider also supplies the required fax gateway and T.38 network server. Companies who want to keep a fax machine would need a T.38 capable fax machine.

Hybrid Internet Fax Providers: These types of Internet fax providers offer customers a combination of faxing environments. Customers have the option of using their own fax servers or LAN or WAN networks for highly sensitive faxing and online fax services for general desktop faxing. Hybrid fax providers also give companies an affordable backup to their servers for redundancy purposes. Businesses with a server infrastructure typically use a hybrid Internet fax provider as a cost-effective means of enhancing their faxing services.

Types of Faxing Methods

Online fax services offer different methods for transmitting faxes. They include fax to email via T.37 protocol, a fax server or gateway using T.38 protocol and a VoIP network using G.711 protocol. Here are the three main methods used for sending and receiving online faxes.

Fax over IP (FoIP) - Real-time faxing using an Internet Protocol infrastructure that transmits faxes sent from fax machines, computers, or mobile devices. Fax documents are digitally converted so they can travel over a secure Internet network. Among the Internet fax options are Email to Fax (sending faxes from an email address), Fax to Email (receiving faxes from a fax machine by email or through a business application, such as a database or workflow management system), Computer to Fax (faxing from any Windows-based document using the online fax service’s software) and Web-based Fax (sending and receiving faxes online via an Internet fax service’s secure Web interface). Online fax services are equipped with servers and use secure fax gateways to transmit faxes.

VoIP-based Fax - Offered by VoIP service providers, this method of faxing transmits faxes from an analog fax machine over a VoIP network. With VoIP-based faxing, fax documents are automatically converted to PDF files for sending over a T.38 protocol and reverted back to their original format on the receiver’s end. With VoIP-based fax, documents are transmitted via VoIP gateways and the Internet. VoIP users typically receive faxes via email or a fax machine.

Internet Fax - This method of “store and forward” faxing is designed for individuals and businesses who want to keep their fax machines, yet take advantage of the cost savings of online fax. Internet fax works with fax machines that accept T.37 protocol. Users have the option of receiving faxes via their fax machine or email account.