Can I Send a Fax Over Wi-Fi?

This post was last updated on November 4th, 2021 at 04:12 pm

Ever since Steve Jobs used a Hulu hoop to prove that a MacBook with Wi-Fi could get online without wires, we’ve dreamed of simpler technology. That was two decades ago. Today’s smartphones, which essentially put a wire-free supercomputer in your pocket, are that dream realized. And an almost-ironic melding of ancient and modern tech will allow you to send a fax over wi-fi using one of these devices.

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How to Fax Over Internet and Wi-Fi

There are traditional fax machines that allow you to fax over the internet. You might even have an all-in-one printer/scanner/copier/fax machine capable of this. However, this feature typically requires installing some software and figuring out that cryptic LED printer menu. An infinitesimally easier way to fax over the internet is with Gmail.

I Can Fax With Gmail?

In fact, sending a fax with Gmail is identical to sending an email. You’ll barely realize you’re faxing. To do it, you will need three things:

A Gmail Account

To send a fax through Gmail, you need a Gmail account. If you do not already have one, they are free and take only moments to sign up for.  It’s probably time for you to upgrade how you email, anyway.

An Internet Fax Account

Though Gmail is the front-edge of email functionality and ease-of-use, it does not have a built-in fax function. However, a fax account connected to your Gmail address solves this. There are a number of services that will provide this, but we recommend RingCentral for its sheer ease-of-use, among other factors:

  • Integrates directly with Gmail
  • You get your own fax number
  • Sending/receiving is literally just an email
  • Generous 30-day free trial

Documents Must Be Digital

This sounds more complicated than it is. Basically, to fax a document through Gmail, you attach it to the email just like you would any regular email. This means the documents have to be on your device in an attachable format, such as a Word document or a PDF file. If your document is paper, you will need to scan it.

Turn Your Phone Into a Scanner

This brings us back to clunky devices in our home office. If you have a scanner, great. If you don’t have a scanner, there are easy-to-use apps that turn your smartphone’s camera into a pocket scanner. You literally just take a picture of each page in your document and the phone does the work. It’s often a higher-quality scan than a desktop scanner. Both Dropbox and iCloud have these functions built right in.

How Easy Is This?

With a RingCentral account, sending a fax is as easy as sending an email. In fact, the process is exactly the same. Start an email. Attach the files you want to fax. Your “subject” line becomes a fax cover sheet.

You address the email with the recipient’s fax number (including country and area code), followed by @rcfax.com. Thus, if your recipient’s fax number is 1-555-867-5309, you “Gmail” your fax to them at 15558675309@rcfax.com. It’s that easy. Any faxes you receive through Gmail show up with the same address format, showing the sender’s fax number from @rcfax.com.

Fax to the Future

It’s amazing to think of how many devices that little slab of metal and glass in your pocket can replace. Paper notepads, printers, cameras, fax machines, and scanners, to name a few. Now, if we could just extend that battery life by a few more days, we’d truly be in Steve Jobs’ future!

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What Is the Best Free Fax Service?

This post was last updated on November 4th, 2021 at 04:16 pm

Is there anything more frustrating than trying to take care of important business only to learn they require you to send information by fax? At one time, the fax machine was a well-loved and efficient tool for long-distance communication. Today, being told you need to use one can feel like you’re living in the stone age. Not to mention, it can be expensive. Fortunately, there are several free fax services out there, meaning you can even send a fax from Gmail directly these days.

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Send a Fax From Gmail: Why We Love RingCentral

Cost

The cost is more than reasonable. For as little as $16.95 a month, you can send or receive up to 150 faxes in a 30 day period. If that still isn’t enough, a few dollars more will bump you up into a Pro Membership, which gives you unlimited access to this online faxing service.

This means you can send a fax from your email account at any time and as often as you want. For less than $20, this service is actually cheaper than maintaining a faxing landline to your office.

Ease of Use

Using this service is simple. In fact, many find it to be much more efficient than using an actual facsimile machine. To send a fax from your Gmail account, you simply need to choose a fax number from RingCentral, set up service, and upload the document. 

Enter the destination fax number, click a button, and you’re done! As a bonus, your fax number through RingCentral will never change. You can put it on your business cards and use it over and over again. You can also use this service from anywhere on earth, so long as you have an internet connection, and with any device. It doesn’t get more convenient than sending a fax on your mobile phone!

Fast

Sending a fax from your Gmail account is much faster than sending one the old fashioned way. Most of the time, a fax through RingCentral arrives in under two minutes. You also will receive confirmation once your fax is received to let you know that everything went through correctly. No more turning around and heading back to the print shop when you find out things never made it to the other end!

Bonus Features

With awesome features like mobile faxing, cloud storage, e-signatures, and even fax scheduling, there are very few reasons why you shouldn’t sign up right now. You can streamline your business and take care of multiple daily tasks with the use of one simple service- and all for a great price!

Receive or Send a Fax from Gmail

Let’s face it- a lot of us use Gmail for just about everything these days. Whether you’re keeping track of important dates in your calendar or maintaining a spreadsheet in Google Sheets, your Gmail account is as much a necessity as your phone number. By linking your account to online fax services like those from RingCentral, you can set up your own fax number that will not only enable you to send a fax when you need to but also receive them straight into your e-mail inbox. What could be more convenient than that?

Are you ready to get started? The first step in setting up the easiest and best online fax service out there is to establish your own e-fax number. To send a fax from Gmail, head on over to RingCentral and sign up. 

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Can You Fax a PDF File from Your Computer?

This post was last updated on November 4th, 2021 at 04:16 pm

As digital services become more common, the fax machine often seems outdated; however, many organizations and individuals still use fax as a part of their essential business operations. Fortunately, companies like RingCentral help people across the country to meet their needs, such as sending a fax from Gmail by integrating newer and older technology.

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Sending a Fax From Gmail in 4 Simple Steps

There are a few different strategies for successfully sending a fax using Gmail. One of the simplest and most commonly used tactics is to convert a file saved in one of Google’s products to a PDF and subsequently send the PDF as a fax. This process is fairly straightforward, although it can be frustrating if you lack the appropriate tools.

1. Download the File You Need

Naturally, the first thing you need to do is find the appropriate file within your Gmail account or other Google platform, such as Google Docs and Google Drive, and make sure the file is in a format you can work with. If you don’t wish to change the format of the file, you simply need to download the file as a PDF if you want to ensure the recipient is not given permission to alter the original document in any way. It will save automatically in your Google Drive.

Depending on which type of PC or laptop you use, your computer may only allow you to “print” the relevant document. If this is the case, your computer will typically allow you to “print” to your downloaded files, which will work just fine in coordination with RingCentral.

2. Open the RingCentral App

Once you have the file you need, you can open the RingCentral app or log-in to your account online. From here you can use the “Send Fax” function to pull up a screen in which you will prompted to begin entering the information you need to send your fax. Fortunately for RingCentral users, you can use your fax service on whichever mobile device or personal computer you are most comfortable with.

3. Enter the Relevant Fax Number

When you have the “Send Fax” page up on your computer or your mobile device, you can enter the fax number of the recipient in the clearly labeled portion for that purpose. Your fax number will be included in the message in case the recipient needs to send you a fax in reply to the original message.

If you don’t already have a RingCentral account, you can choose a fax number affiliated with your personal phone number or the contact number for your business, including a toll-free prefix.

4. Use the Add File Function to Include the Documents You Need to Send

With all of the relevant information included in the message, all you need to do is use the “Add File” function. This option will give you the opportunity to scroll through the files you have saved in Google’s products on your device or in the cloud. Be sure to select the file in the format in which you want to send it.

If you are even mildly familiar with the functionality of Google products, sending a fax from Gmail is fairly simple. The most common obstacle in this process is the lack of an affordable and reliable Google-friendly fax service. This is exactly the service offered by RingCentral, and, if you open an account with RingCentral, you are eligible to test-drive the #1 recommended choice and fax free for a month.

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Stay at Home: Use Your Email to Fax Instead

This post was last updated on November 4th, 2021 at 04:18 pm

We’ve all become used to sending and receiving information instantly. Yet certain leftovers from previous tech eras are still with us and remain necessary to this day. Probably the most awkward example is the faxed document. Do you still have a fax machine? Didn’t think so. Gmail Fax can help you eliminate the problem by connecting you to email to fax services that will let you send and receive faxes straight from your Gmail account.

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Why Do We Still Need Faxes?

In its modern incarnation, the fax machine has been with us for more than a half-century. That’s a long time to build up an established standard, which is what faxes have become. Documents for government, academic institutions, banks, healthcare providers, and other entities all require faxes under certain situations. This, of course, means the time may come when you must either get a fax machine or else pay to fax somewhere. An online fax service solves this problem.

What Do I Need to Have?

All you really need in order to send and receive faxes is an email account and an online phone number. Together, these become your fax machine. The first part is easy, with Gmail being the most popular email option. There are 1.5 billion Gmail accounts in use today.

The second part is easy too. You simply use a cloud-based online fax service that provides you a with phone number. This number becomes your “fax machine,” letting you send a fax straight from Gmail and also receive incoming faxes as email attachments.

Which Email to Fax Plan Should I Go With?

There are numerous services available to let you send and receive faxes. They offer a variety of plans with different features and pricing. Some will even let you send a few pages for free, but you won’t be able to receive anything because they don’t give you a fax number. Other services insert advertisements on your faxes: probably not the impression you want to make.  

A fax is generally a serious document, often containing sensitive financial, legal, or medical information. For that reason, it’s best to focus on features like security, reliability, and flexibility from an online fax service. You’ll also want to know about scheduling and reporting options as well as support. These features make RingCentral our favorite online fax service.

How Does It Send?

The simplest solution is one that lets you send faxes directly from Gmail. Once you sign up for the service and have a Google fax number, the learning curve is approximately zero minutes. You simply compose a letter in Gmail and attach the document you want to fax. Then you enter the “address” of your recipient.

With virtual faxing, the recipient is a phone number instead of an email address. The number is followed by @yourfaxservice (whichever fax service you end up choosing). The subject line of your email serves the same function that a cover page would with a paper fax.

How Do I Receive a Fax?

Receiving faxes via email is just as easy. You simply give your fax “phone number” to the sender, and they send you a fax just as they would to another fax machine. The fax ends up in your Gmail inbox as an attachment.

Save Time, Money and Hassle

There’s no getting around the need for the occasional fax. Every fax sent from a public machine costs a few dollars – more than that if the document has many pages or is being sent internationally. The costs and wasted time have a way of adding up.

Start solving your problem by visiting us at Gmail Fax!

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How Can I Fax From My Computer Without a Phone Line?

This post was last updated on November 4th, 2021 at 04:26 pm

By going online, the ax has found a way to stay active in the face of ever-changing technology. Although the heavy machines and dedicated lines are long gone, there are plenty of great options to have you ready to send a fax from the computer without breaking a sweat. 

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Best Options to Send a Fax From a Computer

To transform your computer into a fax machine without a phone line, all you need is the internet and an app. Each provider has a different bouquet, so here’s a peek at a few options on the market.

RingCentral is a favorite for its diverse packages and robust features. Their 30-day free trial is an easy way to start, with the option to upgrade anytime right on the app.

FaxBurner (iPhone/iPad only) is a contender if you don’t need a permanent fax number. Free service includes up to 5 sent and 25 received faxes per month.

There’s also the option to fax via faxing websites, but this is limited to sending faxes with no option to receive. FaxZero and HelloFax are two services that give you a few pages free per day, with charges per page above their cut off.

How to Get Started

For a quick start, we’ll guide you through the more standard and versatile choice of an app. With a few short steps, you can send a fax from a computer before you know it.

  • Register with an online fax provider (we recommend RingCentral)
  • Login to Gmail as usual, putting the destination fax number where you’d normally put the email address
  • Type your subject line as the text you want in the fax title
  • Enter text in the body as your cover letter
  • Attach your documents (pdf, photos, etc.) and send

Advantages of Online Faxing

Without maintaining a bulky fax machine and dial-up modem, you can still be prepared for the surprise fax task. In a world of fast-pace technology, tools like online faxing can prove useful in helping you face any challenge the new day brings.

The features online fax providers bring to the table make a paid service a great option to keep you prepared on the go. We’d opt for standard features like cloud compatibility (iCloud, Google Drive, DropBox) and stored electronic signatures. Providers like RingCentral cover these basics and much more.

Across the US, academic institutions, philanthropic and government organizations, as well as established businesses still employ fax for some of their most sensitive data transmission needs. Worldwide, countries like Japan still rely on fax as a popular medium for priority materials, even using it for emergency government messaging nationwide. The need for fax might crop up more often than you anticipate, and the whole point of a fax is that it’s safer than an email. It only makes sense to go with a reliable service.

Send Your Faxes Without a Phone Line

Don’t be caught at a loss. Show that your innovative products, prized strategies, and essential values are paired with the professionalism that knows how to plow through office details, like sending the occasional fax.

The era of physical fax machines is past, but the need to stay relevant to clients (some of whom still opt for a secure and trusted medium like fax) is ongoing. Online faxing is one more piece that helps you connect well. Weigh your options as you look for the app that suits your needs best. With easy to use mobile apps, you can be ready to send and receive in no time flat.

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Can I Send a Fax From My Cell Phone?

This post was last updated on November 4th, 2021 at 04:30 pm

Internet faxing through cloud solutions is as convenient as it is secure and fast. To streamline business with companies that still prefer fax, you have to be ready for the occasional transmission. While the fax machine has seen better days, sending and receiving PDFs through an online fax number is a continuing need across industries and across the globe. The good news is, you can fax without investing in a dedicated land-line, or accruing high monthly online premiums. Here’s a review of all you need to know about sending a fax from Gmail: even from your cell phone.

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What Is an Email Fax?

When someone sends or receives a fax through email, their internet fax provider digitizes the data. Turning the content into a PDF, the provider forwards it to the recipient. Without a dedicated connection line or physical machine, you can transmit faxes anywhere simply through Gmail.

Steps to Sending a Fax From Gmail

You’ll need a Gmail account and an online fax service. Then it’s 3 simple steps, and you’ll be up and sending a fax from Gmail in no time.

Step 1: Pick an Online Fax Service

Browse the options to pick the best fit for you. See our recommendations below to cover you whether you need the service for an occasional fax or something more regular and robust.

Step 2: Register and Connect

Fill in their forms and then choose your number (local or toll-free) and link it to your Gmail

Step 3: Send Your Gmail Fax

  • Login to Gmail as usual
  • In your new email, type the destination fax number where you usually put an email address: Example: 6539042153@onlinequickfax.com
  • Fill in your subject line as the cover letter for your fax
  • Attach anything you want to fax (pdf, photo, scan, etc.)
  • Press SEND, and you’re sending a fax from Gmail

Gmail Fax Advantages

We all love extras, and the best online fax service providers give you some real advantages. Check out the following standard features that you get when you start sending a fax from Gmail.

  • Compatible with iCloud, Google Drive and Dropbox
  • Easily store and access documents
  • Fast communication
  • More secure than email
  • Stores signatures for legally binding documents
  • Scheduling features to set up delivery times and dates
  • Detailed reports at your fingertips

Reasons to Get a Paid Service

The only way to get a Google fax number is through an online fax service provider. Currently, there are no truly free providers. Some providers give you an initial few pages over limited periods, while others put advertising all over your data. Beyond the limitations and inconvenience, there is the issue of security. Often sensitive documents end up going through fax, and in these cases, you don’t want to just give personal details to anyone when you’re sending a fax from Gmail.

Our Recommendation

For the most secure and advantageous option, we recommend RingCentral. This leading provider is the best for a few reasons: slick integrated mobile apps, detailed reports, and flexible pricing plans so you pay for what you need. You can try them out free 30-day trial that includes all the extras their premium users get.

While faxing continues to evolve, it remains a player because there are consumers and customers who still rely on it. Gmail faxing is a great way to connect without buying hardware and doesn’t require spending high monthly premiums. For organizations that still don’t like receiving docs through email, fax is a reassuring and secure way to connect. Try a provider whose package matches your needs and start online faxing with ease today.

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Can I Fax Through Google?

This post was last updated on November 4th, 2021 at 04:30 pm

Many businesses still rely on faxing documents. A fax is considered a legal document, and some individuals prefer to conduct their communications through this technology. By using a Google fax service, you can eliminate the need for a fax line and transfer your fax needs to a Google account.

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Google Fax Service

A Google fax service allows you to send or receive a document to or from a fax number through your Gmail account for a minimal monthly fee. Although there are many web sites that claim they can provide this service for free, the reality is that most of the free services place significant restrictions on the number of faxes you can send in a month. We recommend RingCentral, where you can easily set up an account at a great price with few limits and good security.

Get a Gmail Account

Gmail is one of the most popular free email services available and is already widely used in business. You can use your existing Gmail account for this service, or you can set up a new account if you prefer.

All that is required to secure a Gmail account is to list your name, select a username, and provide a password and birthdate. Individuals commonly use a generated birthdate to protect privacy, but be sure to keep a record of the information in case you get locked out.

Go to RingCentral

RingCentral is one of the best email-to-fax services available. Go to their web page and click on the link that allows you to start your free 30 day trial for their web fax service. There are several options for choosing a number, including toll-free numbers, vanity numbers, and local numbers. On the last page you will fill in the rest of your contact information.

Compose an Email

Once you have completed the setup, you will find the service to be easy and convenient. Sending a fax is as simple as composing an email in your regular Gmail account. Click on the compose button and fill in the subject, body, and add attachments just as if you were writing a normal email. All of these elements will be reproduced in the fax. Keep in mind that the subject line will function as the cover sheet for your message.

Enter the Fax Number

When you are ready to send the fax, go to the “to” field of your email. Instead of typing in an email address, you will type in the destination fax number followed by “@rcfax.com,” assuming you are using RingCentral. Be sure to type in only the number leaving out any parenthesis or dashes. Including the number in the To field instructs your web fax service to convert the email to a fax and send it to the destination number. All you have to do is send the email and the fax will be sent on its way.

Convenient and Practical

Taking advantage of a web-based fax service is often a less expensive and more practical means of ensuring your business has fax capability. Be wary of free services that might limit the number of pages you can send per month, or might even include advertisements in your faxes. Your service is likely to provide you with a receipt that shows the exact content of the sent fax.

A Google fax service is a great way to eliminate costs and improve productivity. It also provides a convenient digital copy of all your communications that isn’t possible with standard fax machines.

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Can You Send a Fax Through Email?

This post was last updated on November 4th, 2021 at 04:31 pm

Once, in the not-so-distant past, fax machines were the next big thing in technology. Then email came along and took over the bulk of the fax machine’s workload. There are still plenty of companies and industries that prefer the security and reliability of a fax machine, but setting them up can be a hassle. Thankfully, you can now send a fax through email!

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Can You Send a Fax Through Email?

The days of having a phone line installed for a fax machine (or worse, sharing a phone line with a fax machine) are long gone: even for home offices. While companies still prefer to fax official documents, you don’t need a fax machine of your own. All you need is a Gmail account to get started.

Can You Fax Directly From Email?

Simply put, no, you can’t fax with just your Gmail account. However, that’s all you need to get started. Email and fax machines operate over different signals: digital and analog. Due to the declining need for landlines in today’s technological landscape, there are now translator technologies that can take your emails and convert them into a transmission that fax machines can receive.

How to Do It

Setting Up Your Fax Through Email

There are several sources now that can provide you a digital fax number that associates with your Gmail account. Take RingCentral, for example, which is currently providing a free, 30-day trial. When you sign up, you have the option to choose the fax number that will correspond with your email address and work to translate your emails into faxes.

I’ve Chosen My Fax Number: What’s Next?

Once you’ve chosen your unique fax number through your translator site, like RingCentral, it’s as simple as opening your Gmail and composing an email. In the address section, provide the fax number of your intended recipient, followed by the domain with which you have registered your fax number. For example, send your email to 1234567891@rcfax.com.

After you’ve added your recipient, fill in your subject line. The subject line acts as a cover letter for your fax, so add all the information that you find necessary.

Once you’ve added your subject line, the body of the email is where you would input the information that you want to be faxed over. It’s truly that simple. After you’ve composed your fax, review everything you typed and send your email. The email will be redirected to the domain that is hosting your fax number, where it will be translated and redirected to the number that you put as your intended address.

Can I Send Attachments?

With RingCentral, you can attach a variety of attachments in your faxes. They typically support a variety of attachment types, giving you the flexibility to send whatever is necessary.

Can I Fax Through Email for Free?

While sites such as RingCentral do charge for their services, they also provide a free trial period. If you are consistently faxing, paying for a service like RingCentral is a much lower expense compared to running a unique landline along with purchasing and maintaining a fax machine. There are also free fax-through-email services, but they often allow only limited faxes per IP address and typically won’t receive incoming faxes.

If you’re looking for a consistent, reliable, and affordable option to send a fax through email, try RingCentral’s 30-day, free trial and see how well it works for you. It contains all the reliability of faxing without the hassle of purchasing the machine and setting up a landline.

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Can I Send a Fax from My Email?

This post was last updated on November 4th, 2021 at 04:42 pm

We are willing to bet that you don’t have a fax machine in your home office. Maybe you don’t have an easily accessible office store nearby where you can purchase the right to use a fax, either. In our age of quick, digital messaging systems, sending a fax can seem a little outdated. However, faxing remains the gold standard of financial documents, healthcare records, and government documents because it is far more difficult to intercept a fax document than an email. Fortunately, it is possible to use your email to send a fax. Read on to learn how to fax from Gmail.

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Choosing an Email-to-Fax Service

There are many ways to translate phone signals into digital signals and back again so you can easily communicate between email and fax technology. To do it, all you need is a dedicated service, and we recommend using RingCentral because it is the leading email to fax service available. What do we like about it? Things like:

  • Dedicated fax numbers or toll-free options
  • Seamless integration across iOS, Android, Windows or any mobile device
  • PC/iOS applications
  • Access to detailed fax reports
  • The ability to schedule faxes
  • 24/7 support

How to Fax From Gmail

1. Go to RingCentral.com

Once you get to the website, click on “free trial” at the toolbar on the bottom of the page. This will take you to the pricing page. All you need to do is scroll down to see the benefits of the plans which are offered. Choose one that suits your needs and try the free version for 30 days. You can always cancel if you’ve only got one fax to send.

2. Select Your Fax Number

You can choose from a toll-free phone number, local number, or vanity number, which enables you to customize your experience to your needs.

3. Download the App or Login Online

Do you want to fax a document already on your computer? Did you want to use your phone or another device?  They offer multiple ways you can utilize whatever device you want to send your fax.

There you go! You can now send and receive your secure and encrypted documents from any device for personal or business needs.

FAQs

Can I Transfer an Existing Number to My RingCentral Account?

Absolutely! First, you establish an account with a temporary toll-free or local number. After your account is created, you can go to your phone system settings and transfer your number.

Can I Forward an Existing Number to RingCentral?

Yes, fortunately, RingCentral already has working relationships with many major phone companies. All of these settings are available after you set up your account.

Can I Have Multiple Phone and Fax Numbers for My Account?

Yes, you can have multiple phone numbers associated with your account. You can even set whether you want each number to be a voice-only number, a fax only number, or an auto-detect number.

How Long Are My Faxes Stored?

You can keep up to 200 faxes for an unlimited time with RingCentral in your online account. If you want to view faxes older than those, you can view them in your Softphone inbox.

If you are looking to send and receive faxes from the convenience of your Gmail account, get rid of a bulky fax machine, cut down on costs, and eliminate a dedicated fax-line, try an email to fax service. RingCentral is our favorite, but there are plenty of other choices. The point is that you’ll never need that bulky machine again.

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Google Seeking Patent for Electronic Tattoo

This post was last updated on March 19th, 2019 at 07:22 pm

googleGoogle is currently working on patenting a temporary electronic tattoo with Motorola that would be able to stick to the user’s throat. The patent, which was published last week, states that the tattoo would be able to communicate with smartphones, tablets, gaming devices, and various types of wearable technology such as Google Glass. It would work similar to a Bluetooth-style connection and would include a power source and microphone. Users would be able to communicate with their devices via voice commands without having to wear an earpiece or use the Google Glass headset.

Another possibility mentioned in the ten page patent document states that the temporary electronic tattoo could also be used as a lie detector. This would be done by including a galvanic skin response detector, which would able to detect the reactions of users. “Galvanic” is a term that is in reference to the way that some surfaces and skin are able to conduct electricity. Outside of these options, the document even mentions that possible uses could include making incoming and outgoing audio clearer, such as for use with a smartphone. Clearly, while there are many options available for the use of the technology, Google hasn’t chosen any option specifically prior to the patent filing.

Images attached to the patent filing depict the tattoo with a size similar to a postage stamp or a small band-aid. The documents also mention that in addition to being able to stick to the throat with the use of an adhesive, the tattoo could also be used on a collar or a band around the user’s neck. Although it remains unclear about how this upcoming temporary electronic tattoo will be used, there are already an array of possibilities that are being presented. As wearable technology such as Google Glass continue to evolve, there will be countless additional opportunities to make use of options such as the upcoming temporary electronic tattoo.