Best option for Network Faxing Help Needed

[rfw]

Hi there, i work for a company that is not too bright on its faxing options as we use a non networked plain paper fax machine. We have a decently stable network with around 20 users and we expend a lot of time/energy running up/down to the fax machine as our offices are on 2 levels.

We have 1 fax number that cannot be changed

We are about to get a new photocopier with network/fax option but I am unsure of the various companies fax software that comes with it.

What we would like to do, is when a fax comes in, it gets routed to 1 or more users (its ok to have the fax converted to an email as we use a robust exchange server) which can be customised by a central user/administrator so important/all faxes goto the people who normally deal with them. We need the option to amend the recipient just incase someone is ill the fax will be diverted/routed to someone else.

We need the ability to send outbound faxes from any user from word, outlook etc so I assume this option will be a 'print to fax' driver

Storage of incoming/outgoing faxes is imperative so decent 'filing' software would be usefull.

We dont want the telephone line connected to any PC's as we need a photocopier and it may as well be the fax machine also.

I know that network fax machines or copiers with network fax functions will satisfy all our outbound fax needs, but he help I need is experience of people using software/machines that can satisfy the more important need of diverting incoming faxes to specific users.

I would be grateful if somebody could suggest a decent software package that would satisfy my needs or if anyone knows of a decent faxcopier they use that comes with software that will satisfy my requirements. I know ages ago I used Ricoh copiers but i cant remember if their software did the trick.

I know that in a perfect world, email will satisfy what I want, but we use the fax for receiving orders and some of our clients are old school or live in countries with fragile IT/Internet infrastructures so sometimes fax is the only option.

Cheers in advance

Rob

[british steve]

Try fax to email services (via Google) we use one of these and it allows us to transfer faxs between unlimited users. You will need to move your existing phone number to a voip number. I wont recomend the company we use coz we are moving to our own platform - but do look in to it with care. There are some dodgy companies waiting to rip you off.

[cjd]

Sounds like you don't actually need a fax machine. This is how we do it:

http://www.voipfone.co.uk/fax.php

[rfw]

Thanks for that but transferring our fax number to VOIP is not an option, it must come through our BT line, any other ideas anyone

[british steve]

Thanks for that but transferring our fax number to VOIP is not an option, it must come through our BT line, any other ideas anyone

Employ a couple of chimps as runners!

[PureIT]

I'm sure you can do this with SBS2003 - use the copier for sending out and the server to receive the faxs and route them but I think it will just send to one exchange mailbox - which could be a shared mailbox?

Any good???

[rfw]

Thanks but no, it has to be simply software that comes with a copier/fax machine that allows incoming fax's to be routed to specific mailboxes, Pansonic have a product called PAPERLESS FAX which is a software bundle but trying to speak to Panasonic is akin to jamming with Elvis and when you contact a local delaer they want to send the Luftwaffe round for a metting and a full on demo/quote!

All I want is for someone to say

Oh, I have used XYZ fax/copier from ACME Ltd and it does exactly what you want!

Heres hoping!!

[computer storm]

Hi,

What you are asking can be done by SBS2003 or 2008, the SBS server can receive and send the faxes for you, you would also have the ability for every user to send faxes straight from their desktops.

You can also setup the service to deliver the fax to any user e-mail address or to a mail enabled sharepoint document store. This would then do away with the need for a fax machine and save your company.