Panasonic launches Internet Fax
Panasonic Office Products Company (POPC) unveiled its new Internet Fax machine. The Panafax UF-770i is designed to reduce phone charges for organizations that send frequent global and/or long distance faxes.
The Panafax UF-770i is a hardware-based solution that sends and receives documents, pictures, photos, hand-written messages and e-mail over the Internet by simply pressing a "one-touch" key. Instead of entering a telephone number, the user dials in an e-mail address on the keypad.
"Typically, a good portion of a company's phone costs relate to faxing," said Gary Winkler, general manager, POPC Facsimile Division. "By sending Internet faxes, an organization saves significantly on its phone bill because long distance telephone charges are virtually eliminated. The user pays only for local Internet or network access, which is usually a fixed cost. And by using the Internet fax relay function with two UF-770i units, you can send to any standard G3 fax machine bypassing most of the long distance charges."
One of the major benefits of the Panasonic Internet Fax is that it seamlessly integrates what most users perceive as disparate worlds. Most people know the easiest and quickest way to share a hard copy of a document with others not in proximity is to fax it. The Internet Fax works identically to what most users are accustomed to. Users only have to enter an e-mail address on the machine's keypad to send an Internet fax message.
To ensure that the UF-770i works seamlessly with PCs both on and off the network, Panasonic offers free software utilities to send and receive Internet faxes. A TIFF viewer and Internet fax converter will be available for download from Panasonic's Web sites: http://www.panasonic.com/internetfax and www.panasonic.co.jp/mgcs/internetFAX
The TIFF viewer allows quick and easy viewing of Internet faxes received in a desktop PC's e-mail in-box, and the TIFF converter lets the user create Internet fax files by selecting a printer driver command and saving the file.
One significant benefit of the Internet Fax is that mobile or remote workers can take advantage of its capabilities. An increasing number of workers today have ane-mail address, and now with the Internet Fax they can have an Internet fax in-box too.
The Panafax UF-770i is available through authorized Panasonic facsimile dealers. The unit is Energy Star-compliant and carries a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $4,695.
Insurance portability explained in kit
An instruction kit that helps employers understand the new Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is now available.
Known as the HIPAA Kit®, the audio-visual package was developed in collaboration with a leading law firm specializing in health care to ensure that it addresses the salient legal points necessary for employers to be in compliance with the law.
The kit includes a 10-minute video that explains in simple language what employers must do to comply with the law. It also includes a 10-minute video for employees that explains how the law affects them. In addition, the kit features a booklet with tear-out questions and answers and certificates employers are required to fill out for each employee.
The kit is the product of Kansas City-based Concepts Simplified, LLC, which specializes in communications services primarily for the insurance industry.
The Kit price is $39.95. Agencies interested in the HIPPA Kit or other marketing communications services can reach Concepts Simplified, LLC, in Kansas City, MO, by calling (816) 931-4313. *
©COPYRIGHT: The Rough Notes Magazine, 1998