Fax-to-email. Email-to-fax.

[ringway]

Hi Members,

In an effort to reduce telecoms costs I am considering using a Fax-to-email/Email-to-fax service.

This would enable me to have one less phone line and save some money.

Do any members have any experience of this sort of service?

What are the do's and don'ts?

THIS is the sort of service I am thinking of.


Any advice would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks,

Paul.

 

[Ted]

We use eFax.co.uk - Email Fax Services

No problems - works just like a regular fax service.

IIRC You should be able to set up your fax machine to answer after a set number of rings. This should allow you to use the same line (if it isn't going to a PBX.

 

[Rory]

We use eFax.co.uk - Email Fax Services

No problems - works just like a regular fax service.

IIRC You should be able to set up your fax machine to answer after a set number of rings. This should allow you to use the same line (if it isn't going to a PBX.

We use that service and liked the fact that we could choose an exchange number that was same as our office. Works fine. Faxes can be emailed to up to 5 people.

On my home phone I have BT's Call Sign, which gives another number with a distinctive ring (rings like an American phone). My fax machine (like many, I think) had the ability to detect that ring so would know it was a fax and answer. I use that number as my business number now, so the family know what sort of call it is. I only get a few calls per day though.

 

[macp]

We use the server in the office to redistribute the faxes from the fax machine to email.Im told its quite simple and uses inexpensive software.Depends if you have a server but its been very reliable in the 3 or 4yrs we have used it.

 

[davidjpowell]

I use www.myfax.com seems to work well, and your supposed to be able to send direct from program, although I have never bothered.

 

[ringway]

Many thanks for the advice so far.

We have one line for our freephone number (sits on top of our normal number) and another line for the fax number.

Will it be possible to run our normal/freephone/emailfax all on the one line?

Many Thanks.

Paul.

 

[davidjpowell]

myfax works entirely on internet connection. You can normally select a number on your local exchange. Any faxes sent to that number are converted to email and sent to you. So if you have your broadband on your main voice line you would only need the one.

 

[Ted]

freefone (ngn) should sit on to of a geographical number, so your normal calls can route via this (prolly already do this)
If you go e-fax, iirc you will have to get a geofix number supplied by them. This can be your area code (e.g. 0121) then anything thet have available.
This could be a memorable number, or we were able to get the last four digits the same as our main number i.e.
main 0121 123 6789
fax 0121 456 6789 (not our real number! )

 

[ringway]

Many thanks for the advice.

I signed up for a free 30 day trial with myfax.com

I'll report on how the product works out for me.

Paul.

 

[yachtman]

Many thanks for the advice.

I signed up for a free 30 day trial with myfax.com

I'll report on how the product works out for me.

Paul.

If it doesnt work for you,I use voipfone and an ata. use an ordiary fax m/cconnected to the internet via the ata to send, all faxes come in as an e mail. been reliable and no monthly charges, with sensible cheap internet callcharges.

 

[Piff]

I used efax for several years to receive faxes for free. They got a bit shirty when I exceeded 20 or 30 pages a month.
To send faxes I use a standard bundled fax program (currently faxtalk) and send most at night when my phone line is free of charge.
After e-fax got shirty I changed to trifax who charge me £20/year to receive - cheaper than an additional phone line - and my faxes can be viewed before printing, saving ink & paper. Faxes can also be forwarded.
Trifax have since changed hands & seem unable to understand the service they are providing. I'm still receiving but I'm not sure that they have remembered to charge me this year!

 

[mapleleaf]

i find efax works really well - I have a Uk private fax number and a business fax in canada. being able to pick your area code means you can have a virtual presence anywhere. i've used it for a couple of years now with no problems .

 

[Rory]

I used efax for several years to receive faxes for free. They got a bit shirty when I exceeded 20 or 30 pages a month.

I don't think they do the free service now - at least I couldn't see it when I looked the other day when this thread started.

 

[yachtman]

I don't think they do the free service now - at least I couldn't see it when I looked the other day when this thread started.

Think you are correct, though the free service continues I think for those who had numbers from a while ago

 

[Piff]

Even though I haven't used e-fax for 2 or 3 years they keep e-mailing me, trying to get me to upgrade my number/service or I will lose the free service!! This is the free service that they withdrew because I exceeded their 20/30 free receipts per month.