Faxing from computer, not machine
April 27, 2011 4:08 PM Subscribe
Is there a way for someone with a Mac laptop to send and received faxes directly from and to the computer? Is there a service that does this, allowing faxes to be received if the computer is off?
Best answer: The question here is what you mean by "directly".
It's possible to send and receive faxes directly on a Mac, but at least for receiving, it requires the Mac to be fully on (not asleep or powered down) as well as connected to a device that supports connecting to a phone line for the purpose of faxing. (This could be a built-in modem, an external USB faxmodem, or a printer with a built-in fax.)
If you want to receive faxes while the machine is off, you really need either an external fax machine or an online fax service.
It sounds like you may want to pursue an online fax service. They provide you with a phone number and allow you to send faxes via e-mail or the web from any computer, as well as to receive faxes by e-mail or the web. A description of various services can be found here.
posted by eschatfische at 4:22 PM on April 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's possible to send and receive faxes directly on a Mac, but at least for receiving, it requires the Mac to be fully on (not asleep or powered down) as well as connected to a device that supports connecting to a phone line for the purpose of faxing. (This could be a built-in modem, an external USB faxmodem, or a printer with a built-in fax.)
If you want to receive faxes while the machine is off, you really need either an external fax machine or an online fax service.
It sounds like you may want to pursue an online fax service. They provide you with a phone number and allow you to send faxes via e-mail or the web from any computer, as well as to receive faxes by e-mail or the web. A description of various services can be found here.
posted by eschatfische at 4:22 PM on April 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Still recommending PamFax, which is by far and away the best Fax app/etc I've used on any platform.
posted by iamabot at 4:23 PM on April 27, 2011
posted by iamabot at 4:23 PM on April 27, 2011
Your ISP may also offer a fax to email gateway. Mine does.
posted by flabdablet at 2:26 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by flabdablet at 2:26 AM on April 28, 2011
Receiving:
If you use an online fax service you can receive faxes when your mac is offline or switched off because they are delivered as email attachments and the email gets downloaded to your mac when it receives it along with your emails. During this period your 'fax' sits on your email server. Additional benefit being that you can access it from the web anywhere.
In addition to the useful link to a list of such services provided by eschatfische you can also choose from some options which are free for occasional use which rely on putting adverts on the cover page or charging the sender for a premium rate to cover their costs e.g.:
http://freefaxtoemail.net/About.aspx
Vhttp://www.08direct.co.uk/articles/services/free_fax_number_and_email.html (you get a UK number)
Sending:
My favourite option which has no monthly fee. You pay only for the faxes sent works well with those who only send occasional faxes. I have used them for years with no problem. You can upload a file or just send an email with the document you want faxed as an attachment! its simple as that.
There are also free options for sending which are limited and put adverts on the front page (so not really good for professional work but great because it is FREE!)
http://faxzero.com/
posted by london302 at 2:34 AM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you use an online fax service you can receive faxes when your mac is offline or switched off because they are delivered as email attachments and the email gets downloaded to your mac when it receives it along with your emails. During this period your 'fax' sits on your email server. Additional benefit being that you can access it from the web anywhere.
In addition to the useful link to a list of such services provided by eschatfische you can also choose from some options which are free for occasional use which rely on putting adverts on the cover page or charging the sender for a premium rate to cover their costs e.g.:
http://freefaxtoemail.net/About.aspx
Vhttp://www.08direct.co.uk/articles/services/free_fax_number_and_email.html (you get a UK number)
Sending:
My favourite option which has no monthly fee. You pay only for the faxes sent works well with those who only send occasional faxes. I have used them for years with no problem. You can upload a file or just send an email with the document you want faxed as an attachment! its simple as that.
There are also free options for sending which are limited and put adverts on the front page (so not really good for professional work but great because it is FREE!)
http://faxzero.com/
posted by london302 at 2:34 AM on April 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
efax.... there is a cost, but you can send & receive faxes from any computer .....
posted by foodybat at 6:31 AM on April 28, 2011
posted by foodybat at 6:31 AM on April 28, 2011
I use greenfax, minimal costs. I do not do much faxing so it seems to be just fine. I used faxaway as well in the past.
H
posted by silsurf at 1:29 PM on April 28, 2011
H
posted by silsurf at 1:29 PM on April 28, 2011
« Older I am procrastinating about this RIGHT NOW | Earth gravity in space? How hard could it be... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by RichardP at 4:11 PM on April 27, 2011