This MacNews Category Review looks at communications and fax products for Mac OS X. Products covered include 4-Sight, AnrufAktion, Black Cat CW Keyer, BlueService, CallChecker, CoMa X Voice/Fax/Pro, Communigate Pro, CPhone, DataPilot, Desktop Transporter, Dial P-in, eFax Plus, Empower Pro Phone, End Hanging Disconnect, FaxCenter, FaxEmailHelper, FaxExpress, FaxGear, FaxSTF & FaxSTF Pro, Get Info, Grand Central Pro, HylaFAX, iilink Direct, Instant Fax Cover and isms.

4-Sight Fax Software

[url=http://www.4sightfax.com/]The 4-Sight FAX 5 Server[/url] acts as the hub for all incoming and outgoing faxes. It allows faxes to be sent directly from Mac OS 8, 9 and Mac OS X and Windows applications. 4-Sight FAX manages up to 16 concurrent fax lines and unlimited users across multiple platforms. A fax forward to e-mail option allows users to receive their faxes via e-mail as a PDF attachment. Developers can use the advanced API (application programming interface). The Quick Fax option allows direct sending by dragging any document onto the Quickfax icon.

AnrufAktion

With [url=http://www.lyhoo.de/]AnrufAktion[/url] you can trigger various activities on your Mac through a Siemens cellular phone. Just connect up the phone, set the telephone number of the authorized caller and then you can open a document, an application, or a Script by ringing once.

Black Cat CW Keyer

[url=http://www.blackcatsystems.com/]Black Cat CW Keyer[/url] is a utility for transmitting Morse code via macros or keying on your Mac.

BlueService

[url=http://www.grunenberg.com/]BlueService[/url] sends selected plain or rich text of Cocoa applications (e.g. Textedit, Mail, Stickies, Notes, ProjectBuilder, Fire, OmniWeb or TeXShop) and of Carbon applications supporting services to BlueTooth devices supporting OBEX Object Push or OBEX File Transfer. So it's possible to send notes or short messages to your handheld or your mobile phone, which can be useful if your phone isn't supported by Jaguar's Addressbook and its SMS capabilities.

CallChecker

[url=http://earthlingsoft.net/]CallChecker[/url] is an application that polls fli4l routers for incoming ISDN calls. It will notify you when your phone is ringing, and show the caller's name if the contact data is available in the Mac OS X Address Book.

CoMa X Voice/Fax/Pro

[url=http://hartmann-b.de/]CoMa X Voice/Fax/Pro[/url] is a fax and voice-mail-system for sending and receiving fax, answering machine, mailbox and terminal with and internal z-modem.

CommuniGate Pro

The [url=http://www.communigate.com/content/default.html]CommuniGate Pro IP Communications server[/url] is a converged application solution based upon open standards, such as SIP/XMPP for voice and data communications. The software suite provides both infrastructure and application functions for standards-based messaging, VoIP, video, IM, IP PBX, presence, and real-time collaboration. The CommuniGate Pro server software combined with the Dynamic Cluster architecture provides scalability and redundancy. The multi-node, all-active SIP Farm technology makes it possible to host millions of voice subscribers, according to its developers.

CPhone

[url=http://cphone.sourceforge.net/]CPhone[/url] is a cross platform VoIP client that uses the H323 protocol. It compiles and runs on Mac OS X, Linux, BSD and Windows systems. It's based on the libraries from the OpenH32 Project and Trolltech.

DataPilot

[url=http://www.susteen.com/]DataPilot[/url] provides a way to back up, edit, transfer and share your cell phone contact information. It allows you to manage all your data in one central location. With a click you can transfer your contacts between your cell phone and the Mac OS X Address Book.

Desktop Transporter

[url=http://home.online.no/~stoedle/YLS/]Desktop Transporter[/url] is a remote desktop application that supports one-click sharing and automatic discovery of shared desktops using Bonjour. It allows you to protect access to your desktop with a password, and enables copy-and-paste between your own and a remote desktop.

Dial P-in

[url=http://www.zone0.ne.jp/]Dial P-in[/url] is a master compatible dialer software for the NTT DoCoMo PHS 64 K Mobile Telecommunications Card with the capacity to store CCL files. PHS is a method of cellphone telecommunication which is used in Japan.

eFax Plus

[url=http://www.efax.com/en/efax/twa/page/homePage?CMP=OTC-us_tn]eFax Plus[/url] lets you receive a fax in your email as an attachment that you can view with the eFax Messenger.

Empower Pro Phone

[url=http://www.empowerprophone.com/]Empower Pro Phone[/url] lets you call others directly from your Mac to theirs using the Internet. All parties must have the software for it to work. It's designed for folks with DSL and cable Internet connections that are always on.

End Hanging Disconnect

[url=http://shopperturnpike.com/usefulsoftware/]End Hanging Disconnect[/url] is a Mac OS X application that will force-quit the "endless disconnect" that can sometimes occur on dial-up Internet connections. Run the application and enter your (admin) password. You may then reconnect to the Internet. This eliminates the need to restart the computer, which otherwise would often be necessary.

FaxCenter

[url=http://www.macadvocacy.com/faxcenter.htm]FaxCenter[/url] is software for sending and receiving faxes with most fax modems. It offers the option of sending multiple files to a single destination and has an optional coversheet facility.

FaxEmailHelper

[url=http://www.rwts.com.au/]FaxEmailHelper[/url] is an utility designed to enhance the functionality of forwarding received faxes by email in Mac OS X 10.3 and higher. It enables you to configure the email address from which the fax is forwarded and to optionally specify an outgoing mail server. It also allows you to test your configuration by simulating the receipt of a fax.

FaxExpress

[url=http://www.glenwarne.co.uk/]FaxExpress[/url] is fax software available in single and network versions. In a network one Mac, with an internal or external fax modem on board, runs the FaxExpress Server Software. The client software is installed on any Mac in the network that wants to fax. When someone sends a fax it disappears from their Mac in a second or two, and travels across to the server for processing and transmission. All incoming faxes are received on the Fax Server and then viewed, printed, or sent across the network to a client Mac.

FaxGear

[url=http://www.faxgear.netdock.de/index.php]FaxGear[/url] is a fax sending solution. It can set up a fax server for clients of almost any operating system (Mac OS X, Windows and Linux) and lets you build a solution that allows your workgroup to send faxes from almost anywhere. All you need is an Internet connection. With FaxGear, you can provide individual fax folders to several clients, email a response of fax success or failure, utilize several modems in parallel and send out a series of faxes. FaxGear uses PDF files to send faxes.

FaxSTF & FAXstfx Pro

[url=http://www.smithmicro.com/]FAXstf X Pro[/url] allows you to view multiple documents at once, sort faxes, create your own subfolders for storing and reference of sent or received faxes. It's compatible with the Apple internal modem of older Macs and USB external modems (that support Mac OS X 10.2), FAXstf X Pro supports any Mac OS X document-based application including Microsoft Office, PhotoShop and iPhoto. The solution not only permits background faxing to multiple recipients but also supports the Mac OS X Address Book for single or group fax distribution. You can view the history of any fax transmission. The imaging technology of FAXstf X Pro provides fax files that are based on PDF file format. You can create and import your own cover pages with logos or graphics to identify your business. The Quick Fax feature allows you to send a one-page fax directly from FAXstf X Pro. There's also a client/Server version of FAXstf for the Mac that lets you route, send, receive, view, and delete your faxes.

Get Info

[url=http://www.dxoft.com/]Get Info[/url] is a suite of databases for tracking data about computer configurations -- TCP/IP and remote access, user and log-in data, and more. It integrates with Internet software.

Grand Central Pro

[url=http://www.hermstedt.de/]Grand Central Pro[/url] is a multifunctional platform-independent software for high speed data transfer. It supports the transfer of files via ISDN using a range of national and international file transfer protocols. It does so automatically and independently of the platform being used by your partner.

HylaFAX

[url=http://www.hylafax.org]HylaFAX[/url] is an enterprise-class system for sending and receiving facs, as well as for sending alphanumeric pages. It's designed around a client-server architecture.

ilink direct

[url=http://direct.ilink.de/de/index.html]ilink direct[/url] lets you control your phone with your Mac. Architected for network use, it works with both landline phones and PBX systems. With ilink direct, you can dial any number stored on your Mac, whether it’s in your Address Book, in FileMaker or simply in an e-mail. You can also use your Mac to screen incoming calls.

Instant Fax Cover

[url=http://www.haspelsoftware.com/]Instant Fax Cover[/url] is software for printing fax cover sheets. It "remembers" your last fax cover so you don't have to enter the information again.

isms

[url=]isms[/url] is an SMS application that allows you to send SMS messages to cell phones. If you use Apple's iCal, iSMS can automatically send your alarms to your cell phone and forward your email from any POP3 server to your cell phone (there's an 130 character limit).

Next week: part two.