Hi, I guess this doesn't really fit on any forum here, but was wondering if anyone has used and could recommend a company that assigns a "fax" number people can send to, that actually delivers the fax in an email to you. I'd like this for working when I travel, but would like an established company if there is such a thing. The agreement I read from one such provider, J2 Global, sounds very scary and aggressive and like you get the short end of all possible sticks in all ways. Their first priority also seems to be facilitating advertising. If you get a paid account, which I would probably have to given the number of pages I'd receive (would not be sending via that method), you can opt-out of ads but still I just didn't have a good feeling about them. And in a quick web search, I couldn't get a feel for if any of the other companies were reliable/trustworthy and whether I'd be comfortable giving them my credit card info. Any experience/recommendations? Thanks! :^ )

sounds like a lot of trouble to me. folks have to type up the fax anyway, why not save time and just type an e-mail and send it. if folks are using win xp, a built in fax service will send fax to your computer, and auto send it to the printer. that win95 computer with 32 ram, will suffer some in todays computer hi-tech arena

This wouldn't be something that would transpire on this old computer (but I don't think that would make any difference anyway). I would use this so that I could receive faxes that clients send as I travel -- and am almost always 'borrowing' better computers at those locations. I think the efax thing is a pretty new concept, and probably doesn't involve the trouble or steps you're picturing. I've linked to one such company below. What it does is take a physical fax sent to a dedicated phone number that the company assigns to you, and attach it to an email to you. Not all of my clients have scanning software so that they can scan what they need to send me and attach it to an email. They are forwarding me paperwork completed by other people -- often job applicants, filled out by hand -- that I have to process. So they cannot sit down and retype the person's paperwork into an email to me. They need to be able to use their fax machines just like always, and I can't demand that they get savvy, buy equipment, or otherwise jump through any hoops for me. I need *them*! This forwarding service would enable them to use the same "fax number" wherever I am, whether I'm actually at a fax machine or not; and often I will be at friend's or family's homes where there is no DSL or cable connection and I can't ask that they have their computers or fax machines set to receive my work at all times. (It costs extra to *return* "faxes" via email, so that I would not do. My completed work I would attach to a regular email, or more easily be able to get to an actual fax machine, since it's only incoming faxes that I have no control or warning over the timing of). Here is a link you can read about it at (I see that "AOL" appears in the link, so if it doesn't work for others, just go to efax.com). This is the provider I mentioned, J2 Global, whose agreement and policies I just thought sounded threatening. Other opinions on that perception would be appreciated too: http://www.efax.com/en/efax/twa/page/homePage?location=aol/aol.gif&CMP=OTC-aol

You may be able to receive the fax on a computer at your office (home) if you have a dedicated fax line and then read it with remote access software if you have full time internet access.

Hi Wiz, no such luck. No dedicated fax line, and no always-on capability for the home base computer, since my other one passed away (and this one isn't readily equip-able for such a connection). I also need this soon. But to me the fax-by-email concept sounds just grand; if it's for real I woudn't want to look for other ways to accomplish this. Just trying to confirm that it *is* for real, and was really hoping for a recommendation of a provider from someone who uses such services. If you or anyone reading happens to look at the above link to efax.com (J2 Global), please do let me know if you see any holes in the concept, or that company's policies! I think this must be a really new thing, no one anywhere I've tried has been aware of it yet.

P.S... I just noticed that when I posted about this subject, lots of advertiser links to other providers of efax services appear at the top of this page. I think it is a concept whose day is here, or coming! Remember that it is a dedicated number they give you, which routes paper faxes to you via email, wherever you are. What could possibly be simpler? Some day, paper faxes may be referred to as "snail faxes!" And you heard it here first! ;^ )

UPDATE: I chose a company called Maxemail and signed up. Appears to work like a charm. For $14.95/yr plus a one-time $10.00 sign up fee, I had a dedicated "fax" number within 30 minutes. It also takes voice mail messages if you set it to, and sends them to you as Real Audio or .wav files. There are some set up options, and I have mine sent to send me faxes as .pdf attachments. There is *no* software or special anything needed. You just give out the number and "faxes" (or voice mails) are sent to your email address. Don't even need to log into the Maxemail site to get them. You can send faxes from email too, either right from your email or the web site. Sending faxes costs about ten cents a minute though, whereas there is only the flat yearly fee for receiving. This is REALLY cool!!! I'm surprised more people don't know about it. Note that there are other packages for more $$, where you can choose your area code or get a toll free number.