What Is a Fax Modem?

A facsimile modem is a modem that encodes data in a facsimile format and sends it out (also receives it). The data it sends can be decoded by a fax machine or another modem and converted into an image. The image must already be encoded on the host. Text and images can be converted into fax format using special software provided with the modem. Documents on paper must be scanned into the computer first. The fax modem can be built-in or external, and it may combine the functions of fax and traditional modem.