Fax over IP - FoIP

Fax over IP can be done in many ways, either realtime or store-and-forward

Realtime

• Transmission of a fax audio stream over a VoIP protocol, like SIP, IAX, H.323. This requires an uncompressed 64 kbit codec to have any chance of working, resulting in the need of around 80 kbit bandwidth. For a number of reasons it may or may not work even then.
• Fax over IP with a special protocol designed for this application. The key standardised protocol for this is T.38.

Store and forward

• A FAX, from a FAX machine, is decoded and stored by a FoIP gateway. It is then sent, using SMTP or a similar transport, to another FoIP gateway where it may be sent out to a destination FAX machine. The key standardised protocol for this is T.37.

FoIP Resources

All about FoIP As IP networks and VoIP adoption expands, and traditional Public-Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) phone services change, organizations with paper-intensive communication processes increasingly look to Fax over IP (FoIP) as part of their solution. AllAboutFoIP.com is a bold initiative which provides VoIP providers, integration specialists and their clients with the most instrumental offerings of FoIP components and solutions, including Audio Codes, Alcatel, Avaya, Biscom, Cisco, Commetrex, Dialogic (Brooktrout), EtherFax, Faxback, Faxcore, GFi, Open Text (RightFax), SagemCom (XmediusFax), ShoreTel, and TargetFax.

Start here

• Steve Underwood Faxing over IP networks Article - excellent explanation of issues related to realtime FoIP
• All about FoIP Unified Communication Migration Strategies

Service Providers

• Live-Tech ZippyFax Solution Provider | FoIP & VoIP Sales - Service - Support | Worldwide Support | Get Faxes Emailed To Your Domain | TalkSwitch PBX Sales & Support
• One Touch Global Technologies Industry Experts. More than 19 years of experience. Fax Server, Fax Service, Fax Broadcast, Host Fax, Email 2 Fax, FoIP Implementation and more

See also

• Asterisk fax and Asterisk T.38
• ICTFAX , an open source Fax over IP software solution developed by ICT Innovations
• T.37: The ITU protocol for store-and-forward FAX over IP
• T.38: The ITU protocol for realtime FAX over IP
• International engineering consortium online tutorial
• Business.com: Fax over IP directory
• VOIP FAX Hardware