📠 What is Fax? History, Relevance & Modern-Day Use of Fax Machines

In the age of cloud computing, email, and instant messaging, one might wonder: Is fax still relevant? Surprisingly, faxing continues to play a vital role in various industries. From legal documents to healthcare records, fax remains a secure and reliable form of communication. Let’s explore the history, evolution, and current relevance of fax machines.

✅ What is Fax?

Fax, short for facsimile, is a method of sending scanned printed material (text or images) via a telephone line to another fax machine, which prints a copy of the original.

It was once the backbone of business communication — long before emails became popular.

🕰️ A Brief History of Fax

1843: The concept of fax was introduced by Alexander Bain, a Scottish inventor.
1964: Xerox launched the first commercial fax machine.
1980s-1990s: Fax machines became common in offices worldwide.
2000s onwards: Digital communication reduced its popularity, but fax didn’t vanish.

🤔 Is Fax Still Used Today?

Yes, and more than you think! Certain industries still rely on fax for its security, legality, and simplicity.

📋 Industries Where Fax is Still Relevant:

Healthcare: Patient records are faxed securely to comply with HIPAA laws.
Legal Firms: Faxed signatures are often considered legally binding.
Government Offices: Many still require documents via fax for verification.
International Business: Especially in countries where fax remains a standard.

🔐 Why is Fax Still Trusted?

While digital alternatives are faster, fax offers end-to-end transmission over secure phone lines. It cannot be hacked like email, and documents cannot be altered mid-transmission.

🌐 Modern Fax: Going Digital

With the rise of cloud services, fax has also gone digital.

✉️ Online Fax Services

eFax, MyFax, and Fax.Plus allow sending/receiving faxes via:
- Email
- Mobile apps
- Web portals

📱 Mobile Fax Apps

You can now fax documents from your smartphone, eliminating the need for bulky machines.

⚖️ Pros and Cons of Fax

Pros	Cons
Secure transmission	Slower than email
Legally recognized	Requires phone line/fax number
Easy to use (even for seniors)	Can jam or misprint

🔄 Fax vs Email: Which is Better?

Feature	Fax	Email
Security	High (less hackable)	Lower (can be intercepted)
Speed	Moderate	Fast
Legality	Widely accepted	Varies by country/law
Accessibility	Low without machine	Very high

📢 Final Thoughts

Fax isn’t obsolete — it’s evolving. As businesses move towards paperless solutions, fax is also becoming more flexible and digital. Whether you’re in healthcare, law, or government, faxing remains a secure and compliant method of communication.

Looking for an online fax solution? Consider trying cloud-based fax apps for convenience without compromising on security.