July 22, 2021 | Matt Gerchow These days, fax machines are all but obsolete. With email and other advanced communication technology, there usually isn't any reason to need a fax machine. However, if you're a remote worker or you need to send important documents for another reason, you may need to fax for security purposes. Fortunately, you don't need to buy a fax machine when you can fax from Android.Do You Need an App to Fax From Android?There are countless apps that can convert your smartphone into a digital fax machine. However, if you're someone who doesn't want to add another app to your phone, then you should know that you don't necessarily need to download another app to send a fax. To send a fax from an Android phone, all you need to do is pull up your online fax account on your favorite browser.With a browser such as Firefox, Google Chrome, or DuckDuckGo, you can easily access an online fax machine via the internet. With an online fax portal, you can sign in with your Gmail account, upload files, and send a fax directly from any webpage without accessing an app or downloading another plug-in on your device. This can save data costs and storage space on your device.Does Your Internet Connection Method Matter?When you can turn your browser into a virtual fax machine with an online fax account, you must have a stable internet connection to process the virtual fax. However, your method of connecting to the internet via your phone doesn't matter.You can use this virtual fax strategy if you are connected to 5G, a wireless hotspot, or a wireless gateway synced to your home network. Ultimately, this means you can send a fax from your phone from anywhere you have an internet connection.Is Sending an Online Fax Secure?Using an internet connection to send a fax may seem similar to sending an email, but the fact of the matter is that a virtual fax is just as secure as a traditional fax machine. For one thing, the documents you send with a virtual fax are secure because the digital fax number assigned to your account creates an encrypted channel that protects your information. The only way your faxed information can be accessed is by the receiving fax machine or online fax account.The enhanced security of digital fax is one of the primary reasons this method of information transmission is preferred over regular email. Because of the encrypted channel, your information is protected against malware, viruses, and other cyber threats. Furthermore, the additional security of encrypted fax will allow you to send legally binding information, contracts, and other sensitive documents.What Type of Data Can You Send?A virtual fax service is designed to send text documents, such as Word Documents, Google documents, and other text-format documents. Many online fax services allow you to send up to 200 pages per fax. If you need to send large documents or documents such as spreadsheets, your online fax service can convert your document to PDF format for cleaner data transmission. When your files are received, they can be printed or saved directly onto a computer, cloud storage, or other device.Sending a virtual fax via your smartphone doesn't mean you need to download a special app. Instead, you can access your online fax machine through a web portal with your email account. This can save data on your phone and make it more convenient to access your account from multiple devices. Visit Afax to sign up for an online fax account and send a test fax today.Matt GerchowMatt Gerchow is an author, marketer, inventor, husband, father and yoga enthusiast. He enjoys travel to distant lands , fine wine, time with his family and dinner with friends.