Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power
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PhonePower @ 6th Nov 12:24AM:
Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Phone Power is now offering our Fax Catcher service for free to all of our clients.

This feature enables your Phone Power voice mail box to receive Faxes. The fax can be retrieved along with your voice mails, and can be attached to an email notification. Additionally, we can text message you to let you know that a fax has been received.

If you are interested in this service, please enable it on the landing page of the "My Account" section of our user portal.

Here is a link to FAQ article (which will be updated to reflect free by tomorrow) »www.phonepower.com/Support/Knowl···238.aspx
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jeremyv @ 6th Nov 01:55AM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Wow cool feature. So you can receive unlimited fax? What if you answered the fax?
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PhonePower @ 6th Nov 03:15AM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

We have unlimited inbound calls, so this is just your main or virtual number getting faxes. Just hang up and let it go to voice mail once it redials.

We find that NOC level faxes work much better due to the elimination of jitter and latency of the last mile.

We do not normally discuss upcoming projects , but we are going to start adding free features galore in our packages starting the end of Q1 or so. Call screening is definitely one of them. So once you hear the fax tone coming, you just send it to VM.

We're just getting warmed up.
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usa2k @ 6th Nov 04:54AM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Easier to read without the hilite! »www.phonepower.com/Support/Knowl···238.aspx

So, its VoIP (Likely T.38?) yet eliminates user ISP issues.
Sounds like an interesting approach. :)

Does PP have phone accessed email too?
What would that sound like?
Or is just "Voicemail Viewer" access via computer?
--

Jim, VoIP 12/2002, VOIPo 2/2007
FAH-Tool~Pets~Join Artist-24
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RockyBB @ 6th Nov 12:16PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Hey PP! Your heart's in the right place, and I'm on record as being impressed overall with what you're doing with your residential product, but this "fax catcher" is a little weak. More like "fax backup." You should be intercepting the faxes at your NOC, prior to sending the call to the end-user. What's this "if you're expecting a fax don't answer it" stuff? Weak. So you get props for trying, but thumbs down for implementation. I use a carrier that has been intercepting faxes in the network for the past two years, so I know it's possible. Were you trying to get around paying a royalty to a patent owner?

BTW, the link citation still mentions the 99cent monthly fee as of this morning.
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nycityny @ 6th Nov 12:42PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

I just tried this and it worked flawlessly. Thank you for adding this feature and removing the $.99 fee.

By the way, when I enabled the feature the pop-up notice no longer mentioned the $.99 charge even though the support documentation still does.
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N9MD @ 6th Nov 12:54PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

said by PhonePower :

We have unlimited inbound calls, so this is just your main or virtual number getting faxes. Just hang up and let it go to voice mail once it redials.
I'm confused ... will the customer be able to use the Main DID for incoming voice calls and the Virtual DID independently for incoming faxes. If not, then this is truly a weak-featured offering. Why not offer an inexpensive Fax DID ($3/month) such as VOIPo is doing, allowing for a dedicated incoming/outgoing dedicated fax line ... thereby avoiding issues of "not answering the voice line" which is tough to do when we are not at home and prefer our incoming messages to go to VoiceMail.
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PX Eliezer @ 6th Nov 01:01PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Regarding the fax service from VOIPo that N9MD discussed, at a yearly price of $ 36, this has worked very well for me to receive multi-page faxes each day.

They also have a sending capability but I have not used that.

/end of detour/
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nycityny @ 6th Nov 01:17PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Just to add to some of the other comments - this obviously will not work when one has calls forwarded to another number. I often forward to my cellphone which ultimately prevents unanswered calls from going to my PhonePower mailbox. Those calls go to my cellphone voicemail which I prefer.

Also, this feature does not assist in sending faxes.

For these reasons I will continue to use OneSuite Fax for my occasional faxing needs. Of course, I pay a monthly usage charge for that service.
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Stewart @ 6th Nov 01:24PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Sorry, but for a free feature it's IMO awesome. If you are not home and voicemail answers, it works automatically. If the sender has a dedicated fax line, just add the number to your blocked contact list and the fax will come in without ringing your phone. If you answer a call and hear a fax tone, you can simply transfer it to your own number. However, there is a problem if you have cloned line enabled -- the sending fax will likely give up before the call goes to voicemail. You can work around that by taking the other line off hook before the transfer. IMO PP should add a star code that means "send this call to voicemail", which would have many other uses as well.
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dcurrey @ 6th Nov 01:28PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Man whats up with everyone? The company is trying to add additional features and services to make them more competitive and everyone just picks them apart. They may not be what you like or want but come on people. You do have options here this isn't POTS.

And no I am not a Phonepower cheerleader don't even have them.
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PX Eliezer @ 6th Nov 01:30PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

said by Stewart :

If the sender has a dedicated fax line, just add the number to your blocked contact list and the fax will come in without ringing your phone.
This is very smart. :)
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PX Eliezer @ 6th Nov 01:32PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

said by dcurrey :

Man whats up with everyone? The company is trying to add additional features and services to make them more competitive and everyone just picks them apart.
I agree.

But you know how it is---

No good deed goes unpunished, and no free feature goes uncriticized.
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dcurrey @ 6th Nov 01:47PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Sad but true.

Guess they should have offered unlimited fax inbound and outbound with a toll free number and brand new fax machine all for free. Maybe then they wouldn't complain. Oh wait they would complain about UPS taking to long to deliver the fax machine.
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usa2k @ 6th Nov 02:03PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

It just constructive criticism without sensitivity training :)
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N9MD @ 6th Nov 03:45PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

said by dcurrey :

Man whats up with everyone? The company is trying to add additional features and services to make them more competitive and everyone just picks them apart. They may not be what you like or want but come on people. You do have options here this isn't POTS.
C'mon, dc! All of the posters in this thread are regulars who contribute mightily to the Forums. The VoIP provider reps seem to respond well to suggestions and criticisms posted in the Forums ... when they are reasonable and logical and benign ... either because the suggestions make sense or because they make a provider equally or more competitive.

Ari (or Jim) --- the PhonePower twins --- have opened the thread for discussion ... not for advertising. And many of us are simply giving feedback that may well improve the offering even more.

I for one extensively use PhonePower (the service, not the individuals) in my NJ home and have posted a very favorable review! But I also use VOIPo exclusively in my FL abode and have posted an equally glowing review.

I and the others are simply "picking" at the new PP feature to see if it gives the PP folks ideas for making it even better.

With a $3 per month dedicated incoming/outgoing fax DID from VOIPo, independent from my main and virtual voice DIDs, I have much less fiddling to do. And those faxing me do not have to express puzzlement over why I answered with "Hello" or why they get an outgoing voicemail message.
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PhonePower @ 7th Nov 12:27AM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

I think you're missing the point.

This is simply a way for someone who gets little to no faxes to receive them without having to spend any additional money whatsoever on a dedicated DID. As someone mentioned, if you send blocked numbers to voice mail, you can add the sender's number to your block list and they will automatically go to voice mail and get "caught".

We are looking into a way to transfer a call to voice mail. If that feature gets implemented, you can simply transfer faxes to you voice mail box and receive them.
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PX Eliezer @ 7th Nov 12:38AM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Sounds good.

PP deserves praise for this bonus feature.
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N9MD @ 7th Nov 09:20AM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

said by PhonePower :

I think you're missing the point.

This is simply a way for someone who gets little to no faxes to receive them without having to spend any additional money whatsoever on a dedicated DID.
Ahhh! Now I understand. You are obviously referring to the Mazilo Feature Factor! :) ... something for nothing. :uhh:

Your point is made, PhonePower ...
• PhonePower for the occasional inbound fax recipient (no outbound faxing capability) ... DID shared with voice ... Free
• VOIPo for moderate volume inbound & outbound faxing ... independent DID ... $36 per year
• CallCentric $23.40 per year (at $1.95 per month, opting out of E911) plus 1.5¢ per minute for a fax dedicated incoming DID
• Efax (and others) for high volume two way faxing ... $$$ (Big Bucks)

One cannot argue with "choice" depending on "need". You get what you pay for ... or what you don't pay for.
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usa2k @ 7th Nov 09:38AM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

said by N9MD :

...
• VOIPo for moderate volume inbound & outbound faxing ... independent DID ... $36 per year
...
And note for VOIPo:
$36 gets a toll-free independent DID.
It does not use VoIP (for improved reliability.)

Regarding Phone Power:
Results should be more predictable than do-it-yourself methods.
Eliminates wasted time trying to employ your own outdated conventional FAX machine!
Definitely an added value feature.
--

Jim, VoIP 12/2002, VOIPo 2/2007
FAH-Tool~Pets~Join Artist-24
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nycityny @ 7th Nov 11:16AM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Out of curiosity, how does one send a fax via VOIPo? Is it an e-mail attachment? Or is there special software?
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N9MD @ 7th Nov 12:10PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

said by nycityny :

Out of curiosity, how does one send a fax via VOIPo? Is it an e-mail attachment? Or is there special software?
Special software through the VOIPo website (no software to download).

• Log onto the Main (or Fax) Account on the VOIPo site.
• Click on "Features".
• The FAX page appears.
• Under "Outgoing Faxing - Send Fax" (1) Type in the recipient's 10-digit fax number; (2) Browse and select the document you wish to fax ... PDF, TIFF, TXT, HTML, CSV, EXCEL .XLS, DOC.
• Enter a "Sent from Name" of your choice.
• Click SEND.

It's that simple and works quite well. That same FAX page shows the most recent "Outgoing Fax History".

Incoming faxes coming in on the dedicated Fax DID arrive via email as attachments.
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Quattrohead @ 7th Nov 01:28PM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Super feature and the price is right, thanks PP :)
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Solearth @ 9th Nov 01:54AM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

Voxox has incoming and outgoing Faxes as well.
For incoming faxes, make sure the "personal assistant" is turned on. My personal assistant answers, even if my client application (or even entire computer) is off.
Doc & Tiff files are sent out through the application client at 1 cent per minute on PAYG or included in unlimited minutes at $2.45/month.

If only Phone Power would allow renewals at $199 for 2 years, instead of doubling the price after the first 2 years.
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zaldy @ 10th Nov 01:51AM:
Re: Free Fax Catcher from Phone Power

said by N9MD :

said by PhonePower :

I think you're missing the point.

This is simply a way for someone who gets little to no faxes to receive them without having to spend any additional money whatsoever on a dedicated DID.
Ahhh! Now I understand. You are obviously referring to the Mazilo Feature Factor! :) ... something for nothing. :uhh:

Your point is made, PhonePower ...
• PhonePower for the occasional inbound fax recipient (no outbound faxing capability) ... DID shared with voice ... Free
• VOIPo for moderate volume inbound & outbound faxing ... independent DID ... $36 per year
• CallCentric $23.40 per year (at $1.95 per month, opting out of E911) plus 1.5¢ per minute for a fax dedicated incoming DID
• Efax (and others) for high volume two way faxing ... $$$ (Big Bucks)

One cannot argue with "choice" depending on "need". You get what you pay for ... or what you don't pay for.
You can add Onesuite Fax for options. Only $1 a month for unlimited incoming fax. $2.95/month with sending out options plus 2.5c per page sent.
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