VoIP Fax

VoIP Fax otherwise known as FoIP which stands for Fax over IP. The term VoIP Fax refers to sending and receiving fax information such as fax documents over a VoIP network. Sending and receiving Fax using VoIP Fax is possible if it is set up correctly. There are some technical difficulties experienced by VoIP Fax due to the fact that VoIP is mainly used for transmitting voice over the network. Since Fax data is different from Voice data it causes a few problems. For voice to be transmitted, it has to be delivered in real time in order to hold a conversation. However for Fax data it doesn't have to be done this way. Fax data can be transmitted not in real time and still remain completely intact. With a voice conversation data packets can be lost and it will just sound like a phone call through a bad connection. In the case of Fax data, data can't be lost because the Fax data must arrive at the end with no piece missing. When we use VoIP, it is optimised for Voice and not Fax. VoIP will digitise and compress analog voice communication (VoIP Communications) and isn't really suited for Fax without a few changes.

 

VoIP Fax has encouraged the creation of more robust protocols for transmitting data. g.711 and T.38 are two such protocols. When a service provider sees that Fax data is coming through, the appropriate protocol will be chosen and used. For T.38 protocol to be used, it requires a capable VoIP gateway as well as a Fax machine, Fax card or Fax software that can handle T.38. The use of Fax server software supporting T.38 removes the need for any additional Fax hardware. 

 

To setup Fax over VoIP there are a few things that need to considered. The Service provider needs to support a faxing protocol, such as g.711 or T.38. The VoIP Service Provider should be able to give instructions on how to modify a VoIP device settings so that it supports Fax. After modifying the settings on the VoIP device, all that is needed to be done is to plug in a Fax machine (or modem if using software) into an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA), which is connected to a Broadband Modem. Faxes can then be sent and received as normal via Fax over VoIP.