Commetrex' PowerFax M-Series fax board is the value leader in computer-based
multi-line fax. The reason why is not complicated.
An intelligent fax board costs the system developer two to three times as much per port as
does a voice-processing port. The reason is historical. Reasonably robust single-line
computer-based fax can be based on so-called Class 1-fax modems. These low-cost boards
have a line interface and a modem chip that interfaces with the host-based fax-protocol
engine across the ISA or PCI bus. However, they are not scalable since the real-time
requirements of T.30, the ITU standard that defines the fax protocol, cannot be met across
the PC bus for an arbitrarily large number of fax ports. (It starts getting shaky at over
8 ports.) So, when a multi-line computer-based fax board came along, the manufacturers
incurred the cost of both the fax modem (Rockwell or National Semiconductor) and an
embedded microprocessor for each port to host the T.30 protocol engine, exceeding the cost
of a typical voice port by three times. So a fax board was and is relatively expensive.
Today, even though available technology supports a significant reduction in costs, the
selling prices of the market-share leader's products remains at their historically high
levels.
But now, Commetrex has changed the rules. Commetrex' M-Series fax board takes advantage
of today's technology to reduce the per-port hardware resources required for a fax port to
only twice the DSP MIPS required by a classic voice port, small enough that on some
hardware architectures it is negligible.
M-Series boards are available in four standard configurations. (Custom configurations
are available):
- M-4 , North
American 4-port analog (loop and ground start, DID)
- M-8, an 8-line
version of the M-4
- M-T1, integrated T
span in one ISA slot
- M-E1, integrated E
span in one ISA slot
If you're interested in a fax server to increase the productivity of your employees,
better service your customers, or establish a fax service business, the M-Series is
supported by leading fax server vendors. Visit the Fax Software
area now to learn more about our fax partners.
PowerFax M-Series products may be purchased directly from Commetrex as well as through
several of our fax software partners and their VARs. For purchasing information or to
place an order please e-mail Commetrex Sales
or call Commetrex at 770-449-7775 or fax us at 770-242-7353.
| 
