Multi-Tech Fax-to-Desktop Unified Communication Solutions

A major challenge in sending faxes directly to the desktop is designing a fax server to understand the various phone systems’ (i.e., PBXs) codes for where to send the fax. PBXs vary in the way those codes (i.e., DTMF digits) are presented, and it is up to the fax server to adapt to them. Multi-Tech® Systems, Inc., a leading data communications and telecommunications technology company based in suburban Minneapolis produces a line of FaxFinder® fax servers that, so far, have been interfaced to over 40 PBX models.

To operate, the Multi-Tech FaxFinder is connected to a PBX via a standard analog port and to the company’s Local Area Network (LAN) by a built-in 10/100BaseT Ethernet® interface. The call comes in as a DID (Direct Inward Dialing) number and the PBX converts the number to DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) tones, which define the destination location or extension on the network. The PBX then sends the DTMF signals along with the actual fax data to the FaxFinder. The FaxFinder translates the DTMF digits into an email address and converts the fax into a PDF or TIFF file. The file and email address are then sent to an email server for delivery to the correct desktop. That final location can be anywhere in the world that has an email address. The Multi-Tech FaxFinder is a very easy and straightforward method of implementing unified fax and email communications.

“This solution does not require expensive new equipment or extensive upgrading of your existing infrastructure,” states Mike Kydd, Vice President of Sales for Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. “It only requires that your PBX be able to transmit DTMF signals and fax data through an analog port to a FaxFinder fax server, and that the FaxFinder be able to interpret the DTMF signals properly. To find out if your PBX can work with the FaxFinder please contact us and we will let you know if you to can unify your fax and email communications as easily as adding a Multi-Tech fax server.”



The FaxFinder fax server is a turnkey solution that connects to an analog port(s) of a PBX capable of DID-to-DTMF conversion. It converts faxes to PDF or TIFF files allowing received faxes to be emailed and to send faxes from any application that can print. Available in one-, two-, four- and eight-port models (FF120, FF220, FF420 and FF820 respectively), it includes a Web server interface for configuration and management, and synchronizes addresses with Microsoft® Outlook® email. The FaxFinder fax server can schedule delivery times and build faxes from multiple documents using multiple applications.



Multi-Tech Systems is an ISO 9001:2000 certified global manufacturer of telephony, Internet and device networking products connecting voice and data over IP networks. Multi-Tech Systems has 75 U.S. patents and numerous international patents. Contact Multi-Tech in the U.S. at 800/328-9717 or +763/785-3500, via fax at +763/785-9874, EMEA at T: +(44) 118 959 7774 (UK) or T: +(33) 1 49 19 22 06 (France), or via fax at F: +(44) 118 959 7775 (UK) or F: +(33) 1 49 19 21 00 (France) or at http://www.multitech.com.
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