Modem operandi - fax modems

Entrepreneur, March, 1996 by Jill Amadio

Investigate the newest fax modems helping small-business owners get the job done.

Trying to run a business without a fax modem in or attached to your computer can handicap even the hardest-working entrepreneur. Many computers, especially multimedia models, come with built-in fax modems, but if yours doesn't, start shopping around for this vital communications tool.

Fax modems exchange messages electronically, like a telephone, and can trans- fer data directly from your computer to another. They can be purchased as an external, paperback-book-sized box; as an internal board, similar to a com- puter chip board, that must be installed in your computer; or as a credit-card-sized PCMCIA that fits into a PCMCIA slot in your computer. (Don't confuse a PCMCIA card with an internal board often referred to as a "card.")

PCMCIA card fax modems are best for mobile professionals; one disadvantage of internal fax modems is that they must be properly installed into the heart of your computer and are more likely than external models to cause operating problems. Ask the salesperson if installation is included.

Prices range from under $50 to almost $400, depending on speed and features. Internal models are the least expensive; PCMCIA cards are the most expensive.

In addition to the standard features, some models also provide caller ID, password protection, paging, and a distinctive ring, depending on whether you're receiving a fax, data transfer or voice mail message. All allow you to connect to online services; most fax modems come with free online service starter kits.

Motorola is a leader in the fax modem industry; its Power and Lifestyle models are geared to small-business owners. Jay Berryhill of Motorola recommends an external modem for convenience to use with both desktop and portable com- puters, and for the row of lights that let you know when you're online, using power, and sending or receiving.

"If you send only e-mail and faxes, 14.4 bps [bits per second] speed is suffi- cient," says Berryhill. "If you need to transmit graphics, go for the high-speed 28.8 bps models. Look for a brand-name product with a lengthy war- ranty, easy installation and upgradability." He warns against buying from a company with no support services. Also make sure your new modem works with your computer and software. And remember, manufacturers' prices and "street" prices in computer stores vary radically and can change overnight.

Here's a rundown on some of the newest fax modems:

Apex Data: Designing fax modem PCMCIA cards for mobile professionals with lap- tops, Apex Data's MultiCard enables users to remain logged on to a network from a remote site while simultaneously sending and receiving data, courtesy of its Ethernet adapter. With 14.4 bps speed, the card is particularly appropriate for notebook users whose computer has only one slot. It's com- patible with computers from AST, Compaq, IBM, NEC, Panasonic, Texas Instru- ments, Toshiba and Zenith.

Apex Data's Mobile Plus V.34 Cellular Card (28.8 bps) works with more than 40 brands of cellular phones. Error correction technology helps correct transmis- sion interruptions. Other versions of these fax modem cards are also avail- able, as are memory PCMCIA cards.

Best Data Products: This company sells an external fax modem called the Smart One 1442VLX, available in two speeds, as well as an internal fax modem, the Smart One 1442VF. The VLX line is available for both PCs and Macintoshes; the VF fax modem is available for PCs only.

The internal VF fax modem enables users to create personalized voice mail mes- sages with password-protected boxes, accessible by remote phone or pager, and to communicate with any PC fax modem. A fax-on-demand feature lets you review and select specific faxes to be sent to any fax machine or PC.

Cardinal Technologies: It offers 10 fax modem models, four with voice mail. Exceptionally budget-priced, they are available in internal, external or PCMCIA card versions. The internal modems are $49 to $185, the two PCMCIA cards cost $139 and $299, and the external modems range from $59 to $209.

All models include data-fax exchange and transmission error correction. Car- dinal's newest product for the home office, hitting the market this month, is a $199 Integrated Services Digital Adapter, which provides high-speed access to roam the Internet plus fast connection and signal integrity.

Computer Peripherals: This company's most popular modem, the ViVa 144, is an internal modem with 14.4 bps speed. This $120 modem has multiple voice, fax and data mailboxes; handles fax-on-demand and faxback; and has paging, built-in error correction and data compression capabilities. Claiming plug-in-and-use compatibility, the ViVa works with programs such as Windows 95 and OS/2 Warp, which instantly recognize and configure the modem with no user intervention required.

Global Village: An exclusive manufacturer of fax modem PCMCIA cards for Macintosh PowerBook 5300 and 190 series notebook computers, Global Village's powerful plug-in $599 Platinum Pro, $399 PowerPort Platinum Card and $209 PowerPort Gold Card for notebooks come with connectors and telephone jacks. The 28.8 bps Platinum Pro is cellular-ready for mobile users; connects with online services, e-mail and computer networks; and lets you "hot swap"--eject and insert another PCMCIA card without rebooting your computer.