Fax isn't used as often as it used to be, but sometimes it's still necessary to send a document via fax. You probably don't want to spend the money and use the space to have a fax machine for just the occasional document. Don't worry: there's an easy solution. Get a Gmail fax number and fax your documents via email.

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Skip the Machine: GMail Your Documents to a Fax Number

Get Your Gmail Fax Number from an Online Provider

You will need an online fax provider to use Gmail for your fax documents. There are plenty to choose from, so you can select a plan that's right for you. There is a fee for the service, but many offer a free trial so you can try it out before you commit.

Your online provider will give you a fax number. You can choose between a local number or a toll-free number depending on your needs. Anyone can use this number to send you a fax just like they would if you had a fax machine.

Use the Correct Fax Address

When you are sending a fax via Gmail, you will need the recipient's fax number and the domain name of your online provider. They will give you this when you sign up. You can then put together the correct fax address to make sure your document gets to the right place.

A fax address looks just like an email address. It consists of the fax number and the domain name. For example, if your recipient's fax number is 800-555-1234 and the domain name is examplefax, then the fax address will be 8005551234@examplefax.com. 

Compose and Send Your Fax

If you can send an email with Gmail, then you can easily send a fax. The fax address is entered where you would usually put in the email address. It's simple to include a title and a cover letter with your faxed document. Enter the title in the Subject bar and enter the text of your cover letter as the main body of the email.

Your document to be faxed is added as an attachment to your email. Select the paperclip icon and navigate to the required document. Most file types are supported, but PDF is the most popular. Now all you need to do is hit send and your fax is on its way.

Receive a Fax to Your Gmail Inbox

Receiving a fax via Gmail is just the same as getting an email. Give your fax number to the sender and they can send the document just as if they're sending it to a fax machine. You will then receive the document in your Gmail inbox as an email attachment.

Sending and receiving faxes using Gmail is very simple, so there really is no need to worry about having a fax machine. Sign up for an online fax provider, get your fax number and domain name, and you're ready to go.

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