| Fax server |
| Written by Helen White | |
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The function of a fax server is to receive pages from clients, change them into faxes and send them through digital signals to the page receiver’s end. The advantage of a fax server is that one phone line can cater up to 25 networks for faxing. It also receives fax calls and connects them to the end user at the destination. The working of the Fax server is by using a combination of software which works on a server computer provided with many fax-capable modems connected through telephone lines. Recently, software modem emulators utilize T-38 technology to send signals over an IP network. The communication with the server is done by LAN or the internet. In large business houses using fax in high magnitude, one computer is dedicated to host the fax server. Depending on the specific needs of the organization, the cost of fax server will also change. Amazon.com and eBay websites give a detailed price list of various fax servers of improved efficiency. By connecting different user interfaces, the receiver of the fax can view the faxed message in the format of TIFF or PDF and get a paper printout also. He/she can save the received faxes in a separate file directory to be monitored later. He/she can log in a website for checking received faxes. Fax server is more advantageous than paper fax machine in that the fax sender or receiver can operate from their personal computers. The fax sender need not take the printout on the paper so as to feed the conventional fax machine. An organization can transfer or receive documents with lesser number of fax lines since the fax server easily manages all the transfers with minimum fax lines available. Faxes transmitted through fax servers are more clearly readable with professional formatting. Fax messages received through special email address can be printed any number of times without the need of re faxing. Computers used as fax servers can be stationed equidistant from all desk tops in an organization. The fax server can be instructed to black list many unwanted fax lines and to white list good clients where it will receive calls from thereby printing out the filtered pages without wasting the paper. Nowadays, the internet fax providers have started using the fax server for commercial purpose. The internet user can subscribe to get assigned a confidential fax number. He/she can interact with the fax server on regular payment of subscription. The subscriber is charged a monthly fee of flat rate for a limited number of sent/received fax pages. This is a more economical way than owning the conventional fax machine. The integrated fax program is the latest in computer technology. The fax capable modem is incorporated in the user’s personal computer and gets connected to the telephone line. The whole set of faxing software is contained in the CPU of the computer. The user is enlightened throughout the fax transmission. We have been discussing about faxing through telephone network. Now is the age of internet fax wherein the document is sent through the internet. Many faxes can be sent or received at a time. Use of paper is very much reduced. There is no need for bulky equipment or recurring cost of maintenance and toner cartridge. Fax server is an easy e-document delivery solution that helps to integrate voice, fax, data and desktop applications for IP communication. It is an efficient and secured system for sending and receiving fax pages. Especially, when business houses merge or downsize, expand or relocate, they require highly confidential and secure information to be transferred wherein the role of internet fax gathers importance. A small business house that owns a standard fax server has to upgrade its software often which is expensive and time consuming. Internet fax has the fax server hosted elsewhere and requires the business house to pay only for their usage. Even Fortune 500 companies have switched over to internet fax technology reducing some of the recurring costs. The user of the fax server can send emails with attachments in the form of fax, to the special email address of the receiver. The user gives “print” command to his personal computer which uses a virtual printer r to transmit the digital file through the fax server to the receiver end so as to opened as many times as needed or get the printout on a real printer. The user can employ a web interface to upload his files and send to the fax server for giving printouts at the other end. The user gets to track and a report of all the faxes he/she has sent/received. All the faxes can be stored online up to 30 days or more. These faxes can be stored in the email system or desktop. The internet fax service is similar to any email account, password protected. This is very convenient for touring professionals or business travelers. |
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