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You could be forgiven for thinking that fax machines are obsolete, relegated to the history books alongside floppy disks and dial-up modems. However, the reality is that the humble fax machine remains widely used in certain sectors.
Healthcare, legal, government, finance, real estate, and manufacturing are just a few industries that still rely on faxing, partly because faxes are legally binding in many cases and harder to hack than emails.
But what if you need to send a fax without a fax machine? Like so many modern dilemmas, there’s an app for that – several, in fact. One standout is the the Fax app, which is consistently ranked among the best.
How it works
To prepare images for faxing, a good fax app will process them to enhance readability. When necessary, the app will convert images to black and white for compatibility.
The apps then connect to a VoIP gateway or a fax-over-IP (FoIP) system, which dials the recipient’s fax number, establishes a connection, and transmits the fax as an audio signal – similar to how a modem sends data over telephone lines. Finally, the receiving fax machine decodes the transmitted bitmap image, converts it into a printable format, and prints it out.
Fax apps eliminate the limitations of traditional faxing, allowing users to send and receive faxes from anywhere – whether you’re in the office, at home, or on the go.
Sending a fax
Sending a fax from your device couldn’t be easier. First, enter the fax number you want to send to, including the country code, then attach the image or document you want to fax.
The document can be scanned using your phone’s camera, selected from your photo library, or, in the case of the Fax app, taken directly from your favorite cloud storage such as iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
Most file formats are supported, including PDFs, images, and HTML files. You can also add a cover page, combine multiple documents of different file types, and send them all together in a single fax.
Once you hit Send, you’ll see a summary with the recipient’s number, the number of pages, a preview option, and the estimated delivery time.
Users receive real-time notifications at every stage of the faxing process, allowing them to track the fax and confirm when it has been successfully delivered.
Receiving a fax
Even if you’re not running a business, there may be times when you need to receive a fax. One particularly common use case is sending and receiving medical records.
The Fax app is certified as a HIPAA-compliant service, as all faxes are encrypted. These apps are also widely used for sending and receiving tax documents, mortgage paperwork, and payroll records.
The Fax app provides users with a dedicated local fax number from any U.S. state of their choosing, and it works anywhere in the world. Faxes sent to this number appear directly in your inbox, allowing you to view them while on the go. Just like with sending, you’ll receive notifications for incoming faxes.
More features in the Fax app
One of the best things about fax apps is how easy they are to use – arguably even easier than some fax machines. The Fax app, for example, features New Fax, Sent, and Inbox sections, each with a simple, user-friendly interface. There’s even a dark mode for added convenience.
If you frequently send faxes, you’ll appreciate how the app saves and manages contacts in a messaging app-like format. This allows you to track multiple deliveries and store previously used numbers, so you don’t have to re-enter them manually.
The Fax app offers three pricing tiers, all of which include unlimited fax sending and receiving along with a dedicated fax number. It’s $9.99 for a week, $29.99 for a month, and $249 for a year, so you can sign up for as long or as little as you require.
It’s worth noting that most copy centers and office stores charge around $2 per page for faxing services. Since the Fax app’s subscriptions include unlimited faxes, you’ll break even after sending just three or four pages in a week.
Available for iPhone, iPad, Android, and web, the Fax app offers a modern, paper-free alternative to an old-school necessity. If your industry still relies on faxing, why be tied to outdated machines? A digital fax app puts the same functionality in your pocket – without the hassle, extra costs, or wasted time.
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