Adds SMS gateway, faxes in PDF format, and support for Windows 2003

London, UK, 21 July 2003 – GFI, developer of the market-leading GFI FAXmaker fax server range, has launched a new version of GFI FAXmaker for Networks/SMTP, 11. Version 11’s main new feature is its inbuilt SMS gateway that enables network users to send SMS messages from their desktop. GFI FAXmaker for Networks/SMTP 11 supports Windows Server 2003, and also includes the capability for users to receive faxes in PDF format.

SMS gateway: GFI FAXmaker embraces mobile messaging
Short message service, known as SMS or texting and used mainly in Europe and Asia, has become an extremely popular way of sending personal messages. However, SMS also has several applications in the corporate environment:

• To notify roaming employees, such as sales people or technicians on the road, of any updates or messages
• To issue immediate alerts about emergencies and critical situations, for example, to alert a network administrator as soon as the Internet link is down
• To send important information to key customers or suppliers, thereby ensuring that the information is received by the right person, immediately
• For marketing or CRM purposes: SMS messages are personal and have a high response rate
• As a kind of call center: Customers can send questions and receive replies by SMS, reducing call volume.

GFI FAXmaker’s SMS gateway offers many advantages over sending an SMS message with a mobile phone. Through it, users can type and send SMS messages much faster from their computer (rather than using their mobile phone pad) and can also use the corporate email address book for recipient mobile numbers. The SMS gateway grants organizations central control of SMS usage. A company can also benefit from application integration: Any email-enabled application can send SMS messages via the GFI FAXmaker SMS gateway.

“SMS is ideal for many business uses, thanks to its pervasiveness and immediacy,” said Nick Galea, GFI CEO. “GFI FAXmaker for Networks/SMTP brings the power of SMS to the enterprise: Its SMS gateway enables companies to use SMS as part of their corporate communications infrastructure in a simple and cost-effective way.”

GFI FAXmaker’s SMS gateway implements an SMS server that can use multiple mobile phones. Alternatively, users can subscribe to an Internet-based SMS service.

Receive faxes in PDF format
GFI FAXmaker now allows faxes to be received in PDF – this permits GFI FAXmaker users to view faxes in their PDF viewer and forward them to external parties (who do not have a GFI FAXmaker viewer). Faxes in PDF format are also easy to integrate with document management and text archival systems.

Supports Windows 2003
GFI FAXmaker for Networks/SMTP 11 includes full support for Windows Server 2003. The product has been updated to take full advantage of Windows 2003 new features, and supports the Windows 2003 server modem drivers (which removes the two-line limitation posed by using earlier Windows drivers).

Other new features
GFI FAXmaker for Networks/SMTP 11 also incorporates the following new features:

• Brooktrout TR 1034 support
• Ability to auto-print based on the DID number a fax was received on
• Auto-stamping facility, that is the capability to automatically stamp inbound faxes
• Improved user interface that further eases administration.

"We are pleased that a market-leading fax server vendor like GFI is supporting our TR1034 card. By offering support for Brooktrout's TR1034 intelligent fax board, GFI can provide its customers with a  reliable V.34 fax platform," said Peter Vescuso, vice president of market development for Brooktrout Technology. "The combination of Brooktrout's TR1034 and GFI FAXmaker allows GFI's customers to reduce costs in long distance charges and streamline their workflows on an enterprise fax system that's reliable, fast and easy to deploy."

GFI FAXmaker for Networks/SMTP 11 retains its standard features, including a multi-line fax server, inbound fax routing, print to fax driver for Windows, support for server-based rendering of Office documents, fax management features and more. GFI FAXmaker for Networks/SMTP is the most competitively priced fax server on the market: A 25-user version sells for $675 and a 100-user version sells for $1695. More product information and a free trial version are available at http://www.gfi.com/ffn/.