How Does iFax Work?

In a traditional sense, sending a fax would only work if a fax machine is connected to an active phone line. After all, a fax machine needs a wired connection to transmit a scanned document after dialing the recipient’s fax number. Since faxing in this fashion often requires a wireline, there will be instances where the fax would fail to transmit due to errors in phone connection. However, when successful, the receiver’s fax machine will automatically print the fax and make copies if necessary.

Depending on the fax machine model, a receiver may manually answer the fax or set it to answer faxes automatically after two to three rings. If this is the case, then there’s no need to pick up the call. The machine will automatically receive and print the documents, starting with the cover page.

Meanwhile, advancements in technology have made it possible for multifunction printers to send and receive faxes. Some all-in-one printers also come with a fax modem and software that you can use to send faxes at high data transmission rates. You can also set these multifunction printers to print faxes at ultra high quality, which is great for sending documents with charts, diagrams, and other detailed graphics.

iFax offers an even more modern way to fax. With our online fax service, you can send and receive faxes without a fax machine and a phone line. There’s even no need for a dedicated software or fax modem. With iFax, you can fax documents from anywhere, using any device with an Internet connection. You can fax from your computer, laptop, tablet, and cell phone. You can also sync your faxes across different platforms.

How iFax works to send and receive faxes only takes a few steps. Think of it like sending an email but instead of providing your recipient’s email address, you send the fax online to your receiver’s fax number. It’s a convenient and secure way to send and receive faxes. Aside from having the freedom to fax from any device, you can also protect your sensitive documents by encrypting them with 256-bit encryption.

There’s also no need for complex wire setups and software installation. It’s also up to you to install the iFax app on your mobile or desktop or stick to its Web version. When using iFax, you can also keep track of all your incoming and outgoing faxes via real-time email alerts. It also makes it easier for you to store, access, and manage your documents in the cloud.

A failed fax transmission means lost time and effort. Imagine needing to fax an important document only to get a transmission error. By sending a test fax, you can figure out whether your fax machine is working or if there’s something wrong with your landline connection. On top of this, sending a test fax is also a great way to test your machine’s status. You can send test fax right after troubleshooting some issues. It also helps you determine whether your fax machine’s printer is printing properly and if there aren’t any paper jams in the ADF (automatic document feeder).

If you know someone with a fax machine, you can ask to send a test fax to that fax number. If not, you can also refer to your machine’s official guide. Since fax machines vary by brand and model, they may require specific guidelines for sending test faxes. Another way is to try and send a test fax to the following numbers:

HP Test Fax Service: 1-888-HPFAXME (1-888-473-2963)

Canon Test Fax Number: 1-855-FX-CANON (1-855-392-2666)

Brother Test Fax Number: 1-877-268-9575

To send a test fax to any of these numbers, you need to do the following:

• Send a one-page monochrome fax document to 1-888-HPFAXME. You can also send it to the other numbers.
• Make sure to include your full 10-digit phone number in the fax header. Don’t forget to include the area code.
• If your fax is successful, you should be able to receive a return fax within five to seven minutes. If not, there could be something wrong with your phone line or fax machine.

With iFax, sending a test fax is optional. It’s also easier to know whether you’ve successfully sent a fax since it will automatically update and mark your fax message as “delivered.”

The time it takes to send and receive faxes on a machine usually depends on the brand and model. In the 1920s, it took about six minutes to send a single-page fax. As time went on, faxing has evolved and continued to adapt. Today, it takes only a few minutes (and even seconds) to fax a single page. The Canon FAX-L3000, for example, can send a single-page fax in just three seconds. It’s a remarkable improvement, especially considering how long it takes to fax using an older fax model.

With iFax, you can send and receive faxes online without any delay. Once you click that send button, our Internet-based fax service will securely send your message via an encrypted connection. Since you’re sending faxes over the Internet, the faxing time for each fax may vary. Some factors may also affect your fax transmission speed, such as the type of document you’re faxing and the rate or speed of communication over a data channel. On average, faxing over the Internet takes about one minute for a single page. The transmission time may also change when sending fax documents in large volumes.

Still, you can rest easy. After sending a fax, our fax service will immediately notify you about your document’s ETA (estimate time of arrival).

iFax provides a cost-effective solution for your growing business. By customizing your iFax account, you can make the most out of our service in a way that suits your needs and preferences. We’ll take care of all your faxing needs so you can focus on managing your organization or business.

You can also customize your account to cater to more faxes without worrying about overage costs and hidden charges. With iFax, you are free to upgrade your Professional account by adding more sub-users and fax numbers. You can also avail our developer API support and auto fax-to-text (OCR) conversions. 

If you need to customize your account to send white label faxes, feel free to request a custom white-label fax quote for your business. 

With a customizable iFax account, you can:

• Increase your incoming and outgoing fax limit 
• Add more sub-user accounts
• Request for additional fax numbers
• Request for developer API support 
• Automatically enable fax-to-text (OCR) on all pages

Choosing to customize your plan and pay for an annual subscription also means additional savings since you’ll get two months of free iFax Professional access.

So go ahead and request a custom quote today. Click here to get started. You may also talk to our friendly sales representatives to get a free product demo.