Remember the days when you needed to send a document in a hurry but your only choices were via mail or courier? These options proved to be anything but cost affective or timely, yet they were the only options available. Then, in the 1980s, an amazing product called a 'fax machine' came out. This innovative device allowed you to scan printed material (both text and images) and transmit a copy to a telephone number connected a printer, or other output device, anywhere in the world. This enabled businesses to quickly and securely transmit documents which seemed to be a major technological upgrade.
Though using fax machines didn’t become the norm until the ‘80s, they have actually been around in one form or another for over a century. It is noted that the first fax machine was invented between 1843 and 1846 by Alexander Bain, a Scottish inventor and engineer (Bain is also known for inventing and patenting the electric clock). Since its creation, the fax machine and its capabilities have improved dramatically, yet the purpose and value remain unchanged.
Today fax machines are still considered a secure means of data transmission and you can literally walk into any office to find a fax machine ready for use. But now, it’s not the act of faxing that is changing, but how the act is being performed. Along with the transition businesses are making to the cloud, and the shift towards the need for mobility, faxing functionality has altered, making things even easier.
Since companies were easily converting their phone services to VoIP, why not convert fax machines as well? By enabling faxes to connect to a VoIP service, users are able to send and receive faxes directly, using their e-mail client or a secure online server. This enables users to send and receive faxes from anywhere, any time, on any device – even on their cellular phones. This solution proves very advantageous, as it eliminates the need for dedicated, non-integrated fax machines lines, allowing companies to finally go all-IP without losing the benefits of fax.
Faxing has come a long way since its inception by Mr. Bain and surely there will be more advancements in the future, but for now, this technology is a huge benefit to have. Don’t you agree?
For information on Voice Carrier’s Faxing over IP solution, visit http://voicecarrier.com/solutions/fax-over-ip.html.