Hi
I know that a standard answer to the question of Fax over DSl is "No",
but I need to delve further than that and see there is an easy way to
setup a fax over DSL service.
I don't want to use eFAX or other internet style faxing services.  I
would like to see in the answer some explanation of the technology
behind DSL and why it is not possible and the current research and if
possible products or Telco's that are available to do Fax over DSL.

Hi,

Thank you for your question.

DSL terminal adapters are digital devices that communicate with
routers and similar networking equipment. Fax machines are analogue
devices that use variations in current to send images. There is no
physical way for a DSL terminal adapter to communicate directly with a
fax machine.

The Internet services you mention will use a computer attached to a
fax machine to convert a digital image or document, into an analogue
image. Any product providing such a feature will have to do something
similar in one way or another. A terminal adapter manufacturer could
"cheat" and package an analogue fax machine into a DSL terminal
adapter thus permit transparent faxing. But this would still be
analogue, slow, would transmit over the phone line and fully occupy
the phone line.

In short, these are incompatible technologies. A conversion has to
take place from a digital signal to an analogue signal. Fax over DSL
is called email :)

I hope this answers your question. If something is unclear or if you
want more information please do not hesitate to ask for
clarifications.

Thanks.
endo


Search strategy

Fast Guide to DSL
http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci213915,00.html

Fax
http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci212098,00.html

---

Request for Answer Clarification by rothschildid-ga on 15 Dec 2003 14:30 PST

Hi
Thankyou for your explanation, but it only explains the "No" answer
that I knew already.  What I want to know is what is the future,  How
are companies getting round this problem?  Either hardware or software
products.  What are the commercially available options.  How are
Telco's approaching the problem.  Surely they would want to bundle DSL
services with fax and phone services.

---

Clarification of Answer by endo-ga on 15 Dec 2003 15:00 PST

Hi,

The future is to phase out fax. Because it is slow, unreliable and
costly. It requires paper and most of the time ink. The trend is to
move towards digital document transmissions.

More and more companies are using email to communicate and dedicated
services as you mention, that can send a fax from a digital document.

Panasonic has developed an intermediary technology, which can send
faxes over the Internet, to similar Panasonic machines. This still
involves using the fax as a modem with an integrated scanner. Here is
more detailed information into that technology:

Panasonic's Fax Gateway Software Transforms Internet Fax Machines Into
Fully Functional, Robust LAN Fax Servers
http://www.tmcnet.com/enews/010302c.htm

To telco's, there is no difference between phone and fax service. To
them they use the same medium and thus license them in the same way.

Here is another interesting technology:

Esker Fax--The Integrated Fax Server Solution 
http://www.knowledgestorm.com/ActivityServlet?ksAction=optInReq&trkpg=scname&solId=58376&pos=1&spId=ESKERFAXMANAGEMENT

The move is to use such services:

JFax
http://www.j2.com/jfax.asp

Notice that the costs are really low. They can offer such low costs by
having a receiving fax in multiple countries, sending the data over
the Internet, then have an emitting fax at the location.

I hope this helps. If you require any more clarifications or further
information, please do not hesitate to ask.

Thanks.
endo

---

Clarification of Answer by endo-ga on 15 Dec 2003 22:09 PST

Hi,

Here is a short article about faxing. Apparently the number of faxes
sent is increasing, but the method of transmission is changing towards
electronic integration using the Internet services.

Fax - the technology that refuses to die
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3320515.stm

Hope this helps.

Thanks.
endo

Check out http://www.faxbeep.com where you will find:
1. An ever-growing list of internet fax providers.
2. An internet fax buyer's guide, which lists all the important
features to look out for in a service.
3. A discussion forum about internet faxing.