VoIP injects new energy into the fax concept

The growth of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has injected new energy into the legacy communication method of faxing.

Known as Fax over Internet Protocol (FoIP) or T38, the service involves documents being beamed across IP networks rather than via traditional fax machines.

According to research by Gartner, FoIP alongside the increase in sales of all-in-one printer units could trigger an 80 per cent growth in enterprise fax servers.

Tosh Prabhakar, Gartner analyst, told VoIP Planet: "Fax remains as indispensable as paper, with fax the closest application to written communications."

"Faxing over VoIP networks provides users with lower network management and maintenance costs by implementing fax, voice and data over a single joint network," he added.

A study recently published by IBISWorld and reported by TMCnet.com indicated that the growth and direction of VoIP communications can help businesses and consumers to weather the current economic downturn.

The report indicates that the primary advantage of VoIP is cost saving, which is likely to prove increasingly popular for companies as the recession bites.