By Cheryl Dominianni

After 3D FaxFile you won't see your fax machine in quite the same light. With this program, a standard fax machine can be used to transfer files anywhere.

The program encodes files into "infoimages," which can be sent to fax machines and decoded by the recipients. The catch? Both need the software, but you can get a free "reader" from InfoImaging's Web site.

Given today's e-mail systems you might wonder why you need this product, but 3D FaxFile does offer certain advantages. You needn't worry about the effects of multiple gateways on your documents, and you can avoid Internet bottlenecks. It also offers a security and transmission-time edge, and you get an editable file, instead of an image, at the other end. You'll need the Professional version for sending executable files, password protection and optimized speed in file transmission.

I tested the program and found I could compress up to 110KB of data on a single page in its high-density, modem-to-modem mode. You can print out and fax the converted document just as you would any other page if you don't have a modem. A recipient without a fax modem can scan the fax and decode it on the computer.

For a modem-to-modem transfer, the recipient uses the reader software. With a hard-copy fax, the recipient scans it, saves the image and then uses the read module to convert it to its original format.

If you're looking for alternatives to conventional file-transfer options, or if fax security is a concern, 3D FaxFile might well be your answer.

--Info File--
3D FaxFile 2.0
Price: $99; Professional, $199
Pros: Secure, innovative file transfer
Cons: Both sender and receiver need software
Platforms: Windows 95, 3.1x
InfoImaging Technologies
800-966-1140, 415-960-0100
WinMag Box Score: 3.5