What is FoIP?

FoIP, which stands for Fax over Internet Protocol, is the technology used to send and receive faxes over an IP network, such as the internet. It is the direct equivalent of VoIP (Voice over IP), but instead of transmitting voice data, it transmits the data signals of a facsimile.

While faxing may seem like a legacy technology, many industries still rely on it for secure document transmission. FoIP modernizes this process, largely eliminating the need for traditional, paper-based fax machines and the dedicated analog phone lines they require.

There are two primary ways to implement FoIP in a modern business environment:

1. Virtual Faxing (Fax-to-Email): This is the most common and efficient method. A cloud-based fax server is assigned a phone number and handles all the transmission work. Incoming faxes are automatically converted into a digital file, typically a PDF, and delivered directly to a user's or a team's email inbox. To send a fax, a user simply emails the document to the recipient's fax number via the service.
2. Using an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA): For businesses that still need to use a physical fax machine, an ATA device can be used. The fax machine plugs into the ATA, which then converts the analog fax signals into digital packets that can be sent over the IP network, allowing the legacy hardware to function on a modern VoIP system.