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Fax gateway from TPC (The Phone Company) |
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A useful facility
- the ability to send faxes via e-mail.
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| The
advantages are:- |
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1. |
E-mail
may be available when an international telephone line is not. |
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2. |
It is free
except for the e-mail call which takes seconds at local rates.
(you are not even charged for the eventual fax machine call).
International fax at local call rates ! |
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3. |
It can be done from the desk, airport or hotel room. |
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4. |
It does
not rely upon hotel or third party staff. |
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5. |
It can
be done at any time you have PC access, telephone line, and
an e-mail connection. |
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6. |
It can
be sent with other e-mails. |
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7. |
It allows
connection to a person without e-mail or not collecting their
e-mail (regularly). |
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8. |
You receive
delivery confirmation. |
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| The
disadvantages are:- |
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1. |
A TPC cover
page goes on the front (the incentive for the free service and
delivery). |
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2. |
It is limited
to plain text.
The image is not rastered (i.e. scanned) so pictures, diagrams
are not supported.
The message is plain text and fonts, bold etc. are not supported.
It all appears the same. Some additional software is available
but this probably complicates the use of a simple system. |
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3. |
There is
a security policy but it may be unsuitable for ultra-confidential
documents. |
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4. |
It is
limited to 15 calls per week and 25 per month. |
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5. |
It is
not supported for delivery everywhere (no Nepal, no PNG at present
for example).
It may be more useful for inward faxes to developed countries
(i.e. the UK) than outward.
The supported delivery areas are listed via the TPC homepage
at www.tpc.int |
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6. |
You need
to be sure the fax machine is operative at the time you send
(taking account of time differences) as it only tries three
times to send. You receive delivery or failure confirmation.
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| The
TPC homepage is |
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http://www.tpc.int/tpc_home.html
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| There
are two options:- |
| 1. |
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Using
a mail program |
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from a
mail program (i.e. Microsoft Outlook) which is the most useful
as faxes can be composed just like an e-mail but using a different
address which can be stored in a contacts address book. |
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The format
is
remote-printer.recipientname@faxnumber.iddd.tpc.int
and is used in place of the e-mail address. The recipient name
must not contain spaces, full-stops, or special characters etc
but the underscore can be used and is translated into a space
(do not try spaces the fax will be returned). |
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The fax
number uses just the country code (i.e. 44=UK, STD code (without
the leading zero) and number (again no spaces, commas etc)).
e.g. remote-printer.IMC@441206549098.iddd.tpc.int
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| 2. |
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Using
a browser form |
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from a
browser form (like an e-mail client) using a form which you
type in on-line. Point your browser at
http://www.tpc.int/sendfax.html
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I have
set up additional Outlook contacts for the present i.e. Paul
Clark - Fax via e-mail. |
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Simple, limited,
but effective. |
