How can I receive faxes in my home office without paying for a fax machine and phone line?

-- Many small business owners and people working at home must be able to send and receive documents via a fax machine. In the past, that meant the purchase or lease of a fax machine and additional payment for telephone service. Now, several companies offer Internet-based virtual fax services. These services typically assign fax numbers to customers so they can receive faxes from the traditional fax machines. Normally, fax services charge a monthly fee. Many offer different levels of service, of which only accounts can receive faxes unlimited local fax. Some also offer additional services like voice mail.

Here's how it works:

• You subscribe to the service.
• The service assigned a fax number and provides instructions on how to send a fax from an email program or a Web interface.
• You send and receive faxes as attachments via email.
• The service bills on a monthly basis or by fax, depending on their service plan.

Sending and receiving faxes through these services in a manner similar to works with a traditional fax machine. To send a fax:

• You attach the document to an email address and message to the recipient fax number. Depending on your service provider, you can add a domain name (eg 18005551234@emailfaxes.com). The document can be an exploration of a paper document or other documents, if the service supports.
• The service translates the attachment so that the recipient of the fax can read it.
• The service sends data through the telephone line.
• The recipient's fax decodes the data and prints.

To receive a fax:

• The sender mark your fax number.
• The fax machine translates the data and transmits them over the phone line.
• The service receives data and translates into an image file.
• The service sends the image file to your email address.
• You open the email and the attachment and view the file.