I have FIOS internet service. Will that allow me to receive and send faxes? Only use a cell for phone calls.?

Question

Thus we don't have long distance service on our land line, but would like to have the use of a fax.

Answer 1

Here is another possible alternative at lower costs with more benefits:

Subscribe to a VoIP service that supports Faxing over Internet, such as CallCentric (find links through my profile).

Account setup is free.  

You can download a free softphone for use on your PC to make free In-network VoIP calls, or calls to PSTN phones for 1.98 cent/min in USA/Canada.

If you purchase a DID (direct inbound dialin) phone number for $1.95/month, then you can receive incoming faxes for 1.5 cent/min (standard rate for incoming phone calls to your DID).

The faxes will be forwarded to your email address, or you can view them online through your CallCentric account.

But, to send faxes, you will need to get an ATA Internet phone adapter such as the Linksys PAP2T (I have one and subscribe to CallCentric for VoIP calling.)  If you use the G.711 default codec and set your Fax machine to lowest speed, it can transmit Faxes usually no problem.  Outgoing faxes this way will only cost 1.98 cent/min of transmit time.  No other costs or connection fees, no contracts, etc.

If you can get the Linksys SPA-2102 ATA, it comes with the T.38 Fax codec built-in.  T.38 codec is specifically for Fax over Inernet and is more reliable than default G.711u codecs for faxing.  CallCentric supports the T.38 codec over their network.

This adapter has 2 phone ports, so 1 port can be used for Fax and the other port can be used for cheap VoIP phone calls using the same or different service providers.

With CallCentric you can also get unlimited USA/Canada calling with 911 and all the bells and whistles for 19.95/month or pay as you go service.  No contracts, commitments, fine print, or hidden charges.  Strictly pay-as-you-go.

Only catch here is with CallCentric, you supply your own ATA (but their softphone is free) and it helps if you have a little technical inclination to confugure your own Linksys ATA.

(links to CallCentric is through my profile).

Answer 2

I use efax.com for all my incoming faxes...its free!!

you also can use efax for outging faxes, but you will need a 4in1 flat-bed printer.....or if you have a free standing printer....use 9600 baud-rate and the overseas mode, and feed one page at the time!!!