Subscribers to the JFAX Personal Telecom service receive a real telephone number in an international city of choice, which can receive voicemail and/or fax messages. The messages are received at this number by the JFAX switch and the message is converted into a MIME file which is immediately sent to the subscriber as an email attachment. The subscriber then receives voicemail, faxes and email messages whenever and wherever the subscriber next connects to the Internet. Voicemail is played through the computer speakers using the JFAX audio player and faxes are displayed using the JFAX Communicator.
A JFAX number costs UKP 9.00 to set up and UKP 8.20 per month to rent. However, as a special promotion to MacFormat readers, for each reader who subscribes to the JFAX Personal Telecom service, JFAX will give the first month’s service rental for free. You can subscribe by any of the methods detailed below.
JFAX is compatible with all Internet services including AOL, CompuServe, Demon, Easynet and Pipex. The JFAX Communicator software is compatible with both Windows and Apple computers (Mac version only included), and can be connected to leading mail applications including Eudora, Microsoft Mail, and Netscape Mail. JFAX currently operates the service in several countries and can provide real voicemail and/or fax numbers in London (0171), New York (212), Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto. JFAX soon will provide numbers in Chicago, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, and Vancouver.
Software description
JFAX Communicator (Mac 68K)
The JFAX Communicator is used to display faxes received via email, and is used in conjunction with the JFAX Personal Telecom service. This package is fully functional fax viewer with the following features: view, zoom, rotate, print, copy, paste and change image format.
Approx. 1.5 MB of disk space.
To remove this program simply delete the JFAX folder.
There are no limitations with this application.
JFAX Communicator (Mac PowerPC)
The JFAX Communicator is used to display faxes received via email, and is used in conjunction with the JFAX Personal Telecom service. This package is fully functional fax viewer with the following features: view, zoom, rotate, print, copy, paste and change image format.
Approx. 1.5 MB of disk space
To remove this program simply delete the JFAX folder.
There are no limitations with this application.
SoundApp (Mac PowerPC)
SoundApp is a freeware program which plays GSM formated voicemail messages through the computer speakers. This is used to play voicemail received via email and is used in conjunction with the JFAX Personal Telecom service. SoundApp is a fully functional program and has the following features: play, pause, rewind, fast forward and stop.
Approx. 1.0 MB of disk space
To remove this program simply delete the SoundApp application.
There are no limitations with this application.
How to join the JFAX Personal Telecom service
Fax Orders
JFAX has included a customized fax order form with a unique serial number within the software. You can print this form, complete the missing information and fax to JFAX.
Email Orders
JFAX has included a customized text order form with a unique serial number within the software. You can print this form, complete the missing information and fax to JFAX.
Web Orders
If you subscribe through the JFAX Web site, you will have to enter a promotion code when placing your order. This promotion code is printed in the December 1996 issue of MacFormat.
You can go directly to the JFAX Web site (below) or connect via FutureNet:
http://www.futurenet.co.uk/
Voice Orders
Anyone who orders by phone will have to tell the JFAX operator the promotion code that is printed in the magazine.
Benefits of using the JFAX Personal Telecom service
Mobile: Business people subscribe to JFAX so that they can have a real London number printed on their business cards. This means anyone NOT connected to the Internet can send faxes or leave voicemail messages at this number. The subscriber can then receive all their messages when they next connect to the Internet, which could be at any time and from any country for the cost of a local call.
Virtual Office: A small company that exports to the United States can subscribe to JFAX to get a New York or an American 1-800 number for voice and fax messages. This number can be printed on brochures providing a virtual office in the United States, which will impress prospective clients at the fraction of the cost of setting up a real office in that country.
Small Office, Home Office: A consultant working from home would subscribe to JFAX so that the subscriber can have a real phone and fax number to give to clients. This means the consultant does not need a home computer switched on 24 hours a day to answer fax or voicemail calls, does not need to give a home telephone number to clients or install an expensive second telephone line.
Testing the JFAX Personal Telecom service
JFAX has included some sample messages inside each application. Further example voice and fax messages can be downloaded from the JFAX Web site.
JFAX contact details
Telephone +44 171 681 1400
Fax +44 171 681 1122
Email sales@jfax.net
WWW www.jfax.net
Address 60 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012, USA.
