The traditional method for sending faxes over regular phone lines (PSTN) went like this:
Fax machine → Phone line → Fax machine
A fax machine is an electronic instrument composed of a scanner, a modem, and a printer. It transmits data in the form of pulses via a telephone line to a recipient, usually another fax machine, which then transforms these impulses into images, and prints them on paper. The traditional method requires a phone line, and only one fax can be connected to send or receive at a time.
Internet Fax
Internet Fax achieves a dramatic reduction in communication costs especially when long faxes are frequently exchanged with overseas or distant offices. Since there is no telephone connection charge when sending a fax over the Internet, the cost of sending faxes is covered entirely by the fixed line Internet connection fee. The recipient machine must also be compatible with Internet Fax. Hardcopy is converted to TIFF or PDF data and attached to an e-mail in MIME format. Then, taking advantage of a connection to the office LAN, data is sent via TCP/IP directly to any Internet Fax on the intranet or Internet. Because they make use of TCP/IP, Internet Faxes do not incur long-distance transmission costs and reception is verifiable.
IP Fax and IP Address Relay
IP Fax transmits data over an office intranet from a networked multifunctional device to the IP address of another. Taking advantage of an established LAN / WAN infrastructure, IP Fax eliminates costly connection and transmission fees. Also, IP Fax does not require a dedicated server or make use of the office mail server. IP Address Relay forwards to a multifunctional device for relaying to a local G3 fax machine.
The Internet has enabled development of several other methods of sending and receiving a fax. The more common method is an extension of computer-based faxing, and involves using a fax server/gateway to the Internet to convert between faxes and emails. It is often referred to as "fax to mail" or "mail to fax". This technology is more and more replacing the traditional fax machine because it offers the advantage of dispensing with the machine as well as eliminating the additional telephone line.
Reception: Fax machine → Phone line → Fax gateway → email message (over Internet) → computer email account
A fax is sent via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) on the fax server, which receives the fax and converts it into PDF or TIFF format, according to the instructions of the user. The fax is then transmitted to the Web server which posts it in the Web interface on the account of the subscriber, who is alerted of the reception by an email containing the fax as an attached file and sometimes by a message on their mobile phone.
Sending: Computer → Internet → Fax gateway → Phone line → Fax machine
From his/her computer, in the supplier Web site, the user chooses the document they want to send and the fax number of the recipient. When sending, the document is usually converted to PDF format and sent by the Web server to the fax server, which then transmits it to the recipient fax machine via the Standard Telephone Network. Then the user receives a confirmation that the sending was carried out, in his/her web interface and/or by email.
An Internet fax service (such as MTP's Fax Service) allows one to send faxes from a computer via an Internet connection, thanks to a Web interface usually available on the supplier's Web site. This technology has many advantages:
* No fax machine → no maintenance, no paper, toner expenditure, possible repairs, etc.
* Mobility → All actions are done on the Web interface; the service is thus available from any computer
connected to Internet, everywhere in the world.
* Confidentiality → The faxes are received directly on the account of the user; he is the only one
who can access it. The received faxes are then less likely to be lost or read by the wrong people.
* No installation of software or hardware → All actions are done on the Web interface of the supplier, on
the account of the user.
* No telephone subscription for an additional line dedicated to the fax.
* Many faxes can be sent or received simultaneously, and faxes can be received while the computer is switched off.
