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While the needs of computer-to-fax communications are well covered, the simplicity of quickly faxing a handwritten document combined with the advantages of email are not.
"iFax" was designed for fax machines to directly communicate via email. Faxes are sent as e-mail attachments in a TIFF or PDF format.
Fax machine → email message (over Internet) → computer email account
Fax machine → email message (over Internet) → Fax machine (using email address)
A new fax machine (supporting iFax/T.37) is required, as well as a known email address for the sending and receiving machines. This has limited the standard's use, though a system for looking up a fax's email address based on its phone number is under development.
To work with existing fax machines, all iFax machines support standard faxing (requiring a regular phone line). Alternatively, an iFax can be used in conjunction with a fax gateway.
Fax machine → email message (over Internet) → Fax gateway → Phone line → Fax machine (or vice versa)
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