How to Send and Receive Faxes Online by Email or Computer
Thursday, July 30, 2020
(Gloucestercitynews.net)(July 30, 2020)--The fax was, at one point in time, an important piece of machinery for a big upmarket office. With the advent of computers, the internet and email, faxes gradually went out of fashion. However, still today there are some offices which will ask you to send an important set of documents by fax.
Well, if you are planning to buy a fax machine for just that purpose, we suggest you might hold out on that plan. You can use the computer and email to send faxes to your clients.
Sending Fax Using Just Computer
Well, there are two ways to send a fax using your computer.
Using Landline Connection
In order to send a fax, you ought to connect your computer with a telephone line. That is when you will need a dial-up modem. Using Microsoft’s Fax and Scan application, you can then send faxes.
However, there are certain drawbacks. Firstly, you will need the landline connection to remain uninterrupted during the process. Meaning, you will have to ask people to refrain from using the telephone when you are sending the fax. Secondly, if you are required to send faxes often, it will probably be best to get a separate dedicated landline connection.
Over The Internet
Another way of sending faxes using a computer is through the internet. To enjoy this service, you will have to register and create an account with a reliable online fax service like CocoFax, which is recognized by millions of users and giant media outlets such as PC world, Tom’s Guide and New York Times.
Once you have created an account, the online service provider will assign a virtual fax number for your use. This number is then further used to send faxes via different programs.
- Through Browsers
Open the online service provider’s website on your browser, the one you have registered with . Login to your account by filling in your login ID and password.
Go to the ‘New Fax” section from the menu. Enter the recipient’s virtual fax number in the ‘To” section. Select the document from your computer that you wish to send as a fax. Click on the send button and your fax is on the way.
- Using Gmail
CocoFax also supports email to fax. Much like sending a fax through the browser, you can send one directly from your emails. Simply open your Gmail account and click on the compose button. In the ‘To’ field, instead of typing in the recipient’s email address, fill in the virtual fax number and follow it with @cocofax.net.
Next, attach the document you wish to send over via fax. Press send and done. If required, you can draft a small note in the body of the email as a cover letter for your fax.
As an occasional fax user, you can also check the free trial offered by online fax services. For example, CocoFax provides a free Google fax number for any users, with free pages to send.
- Using Google Drive
Using your online service provider, you can also send faxes through your Google Drive account. That is by using Google Docs and Sheets. This feature of Google Drive comes in really handy for people who normally tend to save all their documents on the cloud.
To use this feature, log in to your Google Drive account and click on the ‘Add on’ button in the menu bar. Select the widget of your service provider and add it. Now open the Google Sheet or the Doc that you want to send as a fax.
Click on the Add On button on the top and choose the send fax option. Follow the remaining procedure, as mentioned in the Gmail tab.
- Using Microsoft Office
Just like Google Drive, you can send documents as a fax using Microsoft Office. Open the Word file or the Excel workbook you wish to share. Click on the file option on the top and choose ‘Share.’ Click on Share via Email option and then use the email to fax feature to send the file over by fax.
Receiving Fax Online
Just as you can send a fax over the internet to other people, you can also receive fax via the internet forwarded by others. The online service providers like CocoFax can direct the incoming faxes either to your Gmail inbox or Google Drive account based on your preference. Some service providers also offer mobile app features, which makes sending and receiving faxes via mobile even easier.
Is Sending Fax Over The Internet Secure?
Yes, absolutely. All the online fax services use end to end encryption technology to ensure that the document you are sharing via fax is safe and secure. Some service providers offer advanced security features which can be opted for at a premium.
Choose the online service provider that is best suited for your requirements and is in your budget and use the online fax services with ease. Rest assured that your information is safe and secure.