FoIP- Fax Over IP Solution Deep Dive

Fax Over IP - FoIP Software Solution

Fax Over IP, commonly known as FoIP Solution is a software solution of Fax machine. Using VoIP technologies, we develop a soft fax server which will use the VoIP protocols to transfer the Fax over audio lines. It's also known as soft fax server and virtual fax system. You don't need to install or operate the heavy fax machines to send faxes. You may easily send the faxes using a PC or phone. FoIP solution is more cost effective compared to the traditional Fax system.

How FoIP System Works?
At Sender's End:

• A sender can send a fax by composing an email with all the required details of the recipient, subject and content or documents which need to get sent as a fax.
• The content/documents to be faxed can be attached as attachments or pasted in the mail body. These attachments can support multiple predefined formats. 
• The fax server will decompose and frame the fax in a predefined way.
• The fax will be sent on VoIP lines digitally which will ensure the quality and cost effectiveness.
• At receiving end, the digital fax will be converted into the analog signals and will be delivered as a normal fax.

At Receiver's End:

• When a VoIP fax server will receive a fax, it will convert it into the digital format.
• Fax Server will send the fax to the defined recipient in the predefined format. 
• The fax can be delivered as wither a fax document or an email.

The user can send/receive faxes in three different ways which are briefly described below:

Web to Fax
An end user will be furnished with a predefined and specifically designed web portal. A web portal will have a simple form or email composer kind of layout. A user may compose a fax in a same way he composes an email The only difference is you have to mention a phone number instead of email id.

Email to Fax
To use email to fax, an end user needs to simply compose an email and address the recipients number followed by the fax server name. For example. if ecosmob.com is a fax server then send an email to: number@ecosmob.com

Fax to Email
Whenever someone sends a fax, it can be received as an email which can be printed or stored for later use.

Features of Soft Fax Server Software

• Send Faxes using PC, tablets and/or phone.
• Send Faxes anytime, from anywhere
• No Software or plugin installation requirements
• Cut down the extra expenses of Fax Machine & papers
• Storage of faxes for future use
• Auto forward of faxes in case of failure
• Notifications of Fax delivery status
• Concurrent Fax Sending to Multiple Recipients
• Custom Cover Page attachment in a fax
• Color Fax
• Phone number blockage facility to reduce spam faxes
• CDR Reports

FoIP Solution will make the daunting task of faxing more easy, speedy and cost effective. It will save the time & the efforts of your resources which can be used for more productive tasks. In the digital world, get the digital fax!!!

Ash Vyas is working as an internet Marketing manager handling digital marketing activities like SEO, SMO, Content Marketing etc.
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VoIP Solution and Related Technologies

VoIP Solution

Voice over Internet Protocol or Voice Over IP is commonly known as VoIP. Basically VoIP converts the analog signal [means simple audio signal] into the digital signal [means on/off pulses, bits 0 & 1], transmit over the transmission line and convert the digital signal into the analog signal at the receiving end. The VoIP solution can be used as the replacement of a traditional telephony system. There are a number of solutions which can be developed using VoIP. Some of them are listed below:

• Interactive Voice Response System
• Conference Call Solution
• Click To Call Solution
• Voice Broadcasting Solution
• PBX Solution
• Polling Solution
• Billing Solution
• Calling Solution
• Virtual/Soft Fax Server Solution
• Many More

There are various technologies available to develop a VoIP solution. Let's explore those in brief.

Asterisk is a PBX [Private Branch Exchange] Software which can be used to develop various feature rich VoIP solutions. Asterisk was developed by "Mark Spencer" of Digium in 1999. It was originally designed for Linux but now it can run on various operating systems. It is an open source. It has the General Public License (GLU). Asterisk is the one of the early invented VoIP technology.

FreeSWITCH is an open source VoIP Software (Softswitch) invented by Anthony Minessale. Asterisk had a limitation in the number of concurrent calls and quality of conference calling, So one of the Asterisk developer Anthony who was working on a Conferencing Module developed new VoIP development platform, known as "FreeSWITCH". It offers all the features of Asterisk with more concurrent call capacity and quality conferencing. It has Mozilla Public License (MPL).

Web Real Time Communication aka WebRTC is a VoIP platform which provides remarkable quality in conferencing solution development. WebRTC can be used to create a web based conferencing solution which can be accessible by any client without any extra hardware or plugin installation. As the WebRTC based conferencing solution is using the web based interface it can provide many fascinating features including online presentations, demo, hangouts, chats, file & document sharing, etc.

OpenSIPs & Kamailio are other VoIP software development platforms. These technologies are most widely used for wholesale and retail VoIP traffic handling and more effective call routing. These two technologies are proxy SIPs and not PBXs like Asterisk, FreeSWITCH. So these two technologies can only be used for call routing and load balancing. For other features of VoIP solutions, developers can hybrid the software by using more than one VoIP development platforms.

There are many advantages of VoIP. Some of them are listed below:

• It uses digital lines for transmission so it is more cost effective because the client doesn't need to pay extra toll charges which he has to pay in the traditional telephony system.
• It provides more quality as digital signals are traversed instead of analog which are less penetrated to noise and other distortions.
• Addition of new extensions is easier and hassle free.
• It doesn't require bulky hardware switches and wires so implementation is quite easier.
• It provides HD sound quality without frequent signal amplifications which might be required in analog signal transmission of traditional phone lines. It makes it more qualitative and cost effective.
• It can be used during traveling as well because you don't need to attach the traditional hardware or wires.

There are few Disadvantages of VoIP [which can be easily overcome] are listed below:

• It relies on the internet. So it cannot perform up to the mark in low bandwidth internet connection. This can be overcome with good internet lines.
• During power outages, the VoIP system can be down as it needs a power supply. It can be overcome by using UPS and similar devices
• It doesn't support the emergency numbers. Emergency numbers like 100 in India & 911 in US can't find in VoIP Solution by default. But it can be programmed easily and offered by VoIP developers on demand.

VoIP is a revolutionary invention which provides all the features of traditional telephone systems with many more advanced features with much more quality at comparatively low rates.

Ash Vyas is working as an internet Marketing manager handling digital marketing activities like SEO, SMO, Content Marketing etc.
Likes : Blogging, net surfing, networking, travelling, photography
Connect with the author via: Twitter | LinkedIn | Google+ | Pinterest