Faxing may appear to be an out-of-date method of communication or document sharing, but it is still widely utilised. While there are many ways to share papers today, such as emails and instant messaging apps, faxing is still quite important.
Why? Because it provides unsurpassed security and confidentiality to its users, it is unrivalled by any other kind of corporate communication. Due to security concerns, government organisations and certain sectors such as healthcare continue to rely heavily on faxes.
Sending faxes used to be limited to enormous, noisy devices. Communication technology, on the other hand, has recently advanced, exposing us to more advanced approaches. Any of Google’s services, including Google Drive, Gmail, Docs, and Sheets, can now be used to transmit faxes online.
How can I fax something from Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, or Sheets?
One of the most extensively used services today is Google. Their services have become so ingrained in our daily lives that we can’t imagine life without them. Isn’t it astonishing that you can fax papers using Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets from Google? Because faxing technology is now linked with our everyday Google applications, it’s quite convenient.
How Does Gmail Faxing Work?
Gmail does not support sending and receiving faxes by default, which is different from how fax machines work.
Online fax services through Gmail, on the other hand, serve as a medium of translation between the two, converting analogue telephonic impulses to digital signals that electronic mail can better understand. To begin faxing with his or her Gmail account, the user merely requires a fax number.
The user can get a Google fax number by using free fax providers like CocoFax to transmit documents nationally or internationally.
CocoFax is a service that allows you to send and receive faxes for free via the internet.
Using Gmail to Send a Fax
Sending a fax from Gmail using Google Fax Free or other online fax services should be a breeze if you follow our step-by-step guide.
Step 1: go to the official website of the online fax service you intend to use. We’ll use CocoFax as an example in this tutorial. Visit www.cocofax.com and sign up for an account using your Gmail account. In addition, during the first 30 days, you will be able to utilise the service for free. Additionally, you have the option of choosing your own fax number.
Step 2: Log in to your Gmail account after completing the signup process and pick the ‘Compose’ tab as you would when sending conventional mail to another party.
Step 3: Fill in all of the essential information. Fill in the recipient’s fax number in the “To” column, followed by the [email protected]. For instance, if you fax some documents to another party with the fax number 45678, you should fill the ‘To’ field with [email protected].
If you want to give the fax a title, put this note in the ‘Subject’ area. You can also include a cover page in your fax by including it in the email’s body box. This page’s contents appear on the first page of your fax.
CocoFax also allows you to add as many different file formats as you want. You can add files in the following formats: doc, pdf, Xls, pdf, jpg, and png. All you have to do is select the document you want to fax and click the “attach” button.
Step 4. Finally, check over all of the fields you’ve filled in to make sure you’ve filled in the correct information. If you’re happy, click the “send” button. Didn’t you just send your first fax?
Using Gmail to Receive Fax
Receiving a fax via Gmail using a responsive faxing service like CocoFax is much simpler and easier than sending one. After you sign up for the fax service, all faxes sent to you are delivered to the inbox of your Gmail account, which is linked to your CocoFax account.
The fax service also sends you an email to notify you of an incoming email to keep you informed. The received fax will normally appear as a regular attachment in the email. The PDF format is used for all attachments.
How to Fax from Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive
The steps for faxing a Google Doc or Sheet stored in your Google Drive account are outlined here.
Online fax providers, which should have an add-on you can connect to your Google Docs or Sheets applications, may be required for this process. Users can fax documents directly from Google Drive in a few simple steps using this service. Here’s how to go about doing it:
After you’ve logged into Google Drive and found the document you want to fax, go to the document window and click the ‘Add-ons’ menu. Search for your fax service provider’s add-on by clicking this button in the menu tab. After that, instal this add-on and verify that your fax service and Google accounts are connected. On the CocoFax, input the receiver number
Within the Google Docs box, log in to your fax account. Then, along with the other essential information, enter the receiver’s fax number. Sign in to your Cocofax account.
After you’ve double-checked that you’ve entered all of the correct information, click the “Send Fax” button.
Once the fax has been sent to the other party, the fax service provider will normally send you a confirmation email to your inbox.
How to Get a Fax Number from Google
To receive a Google fax number, you must first create an account with an online fax service. After that, connect this phone number to your Gmail account. You’ll need to use a third-party provider because Google doesn’t have a fax service, let alone a fax number.
Free Google Fax numbers are available through services like CocoFax. You can send free faxes from your computer by calling this number.
Important Factors to Consider When Choosing an Online Fax Service
When picking an online fax provider to send and receive faxes, keep the following factors in mind.
Electronic signature: It is strongly advised that you use only online fax providers that include electronic signature capabilities. This function allows you to digitally sign documents and send them back to the sender. These documents can be signed digitally with a mouse, trackpad, or stylus pen.
Clear cancellation policies: When you join up for online fax service, you will be asked to provide your credit card information on the platform. Some services bill you on a regular basis, such as monthly or bi-annually.
As a result, you should take the time to double-check if you’ll be charged automatically and for how long. Also, check to see if you may cancel this membership whenever you want or if there are some prerequisites that must be satisfied before you can do so.
Setup fee: Not all fax services have a no-cost setup option. As a result, do your homework to see whether there are any hidden expenses associated with setting up an account with the fax service of your choice. It is generally recommended that you choose fax services that allow you to create an account for free.
Final Thoughts!
The adoption of cellular services has made faxing much easier. The emergence of such services has put a stop to the usage of phoney fax machines that make a lot of noise and take up half of an office’s space.
