to everyone who needs to use it and to give access to information residing on other servers on the network. The fax server contains fax boards, printed circuit boards that process incoming and outgoing fax transmissions. It also has a hard disk drive for storage and memory. There is also software controlling the fax server applications. This is similar, but not the same thing as simply having the ability to send and receive a fax using your PC, since it is designed for heavier volume and more complexity. As with other telecommunications systems, sizing depends upon the volume of use anticipated and on leav- ing room for growth and for adding new capabilities. Depending upon the nature and fax habits of your organi- zation, there are several ways to cost justify setting up a fax server. It can clearly cut down on staff time spent feeding printed paper documents through the fax machine and calling back and forth to the recipient to be sure the fax was received. A fax server can also reduce telecommunications expenses, both by enabling the sharing of outside telephone lines and by transmitting at faster speeds, reducing the cost of the telephone call made to send the fax. Fax servers can integrate with other technologies such as Interactive Voice Response. A caller may be listening to spoken The Telecom Handbook 56 181 FAX SERVERS information and want a hard copy immediately - for example, instructions for putting together a child's bicycle on Christmas Eve. The caller simply enters his fax number and his fax ma- chine receives the information within moments. Fax servers are also used in conjunction with Automatic Call Distribution systems in Incoming Call Centers. Callers queued up waiting for a live representative may be given the option of going to a fax server: "To use our Automated Fax Service, Press 3 to have a list of upcoming events faxed to you immediately." Fax Mail One of the earliest fax applications introduced was Fax Mail (combining some Fax Server capabilities with Voice Mail). This enables people who