The Difference Between Internet Faxes and Faxes Sent from Your Computer

When you send and receive faxes on your PC, you're actually using a fax modem that is very similar to a regular fax machine. Sending a fax via an Internet fax service really isn't all that different � you still upload your document to the fax service through a modem, although you're using the Internet to deliver the fax instead of phoning the recipient directly.

When you use an Internet fax service to receive faxes, the service assigns you a unique phone number. When someone uses this number to send you a fax, it goes first to the Internet fax service. The service then sends the fax to you as an email file attachment; it may also compress the fax so that you can download it more quickly. Some services, such as eFax, will encrypt and password-protect your faxes if you ask them to do so.

When you open the email with the fax file attachment, you'll need special software to open and read the fax if it's compressed. (The Internet fax services allow you to download this software for free when you subscribe.) In a few cases, and especially if you're using a Macintosh or Unix computer, the service may deliver the fax as a standard, uncompressed image file that you can open with any standard graphics viewer.

Once you open the fax, you can print it or forward it via email to other people. It is important to note that they'll need the same software to view the fax if it's compressed. Some services also offer optical character recognition software that converts the fax to text, which you can then paste into a word processing program.