Alternate Line Service no longer available?

I'm trying to set up fax over GSM. I have read
http://navasgrp.home.att.net/tech/cingular/fax.htm and I am still having
trouble.

Cingular Tech support says I need whats called alternate line service, which
they no longer offer, telling me that there is no way I can send a fax over
my cell phone.

My line is provisioned for CSD with "Wireless Internet" and I can dial up to
my ISP with no problems.

Is it absolutely necessary to have the alternate line service? Why would
Cingular quit offering it?

Thanks!
James

---

› See More: Alternate Line Service no longer available?

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> I'm trying to set up fax over GSM. I have read
> http://navasgrp.home.att.net/tech/cingular/fax.htm and I am still having
> trouble.
>
> Cingular Tech support says I need whats called alternate line service, which
> they no longer offer, telling me that there is no way I can send a fax over
> my cell phone.
>
> My line is provisioned for CSD with "Wireless Internet" and I can dial up to
> my ISP with no problems.
>
> Is it absolutely necessary to have the alternate line service? Why would
> Cingular quit offering it?
>
> Thanks!
> James
>
>
>

I think you need to speak to another support person because that one is
BSing you. ALS is a 2nd VOICE number (which AFAIK Cingular has NEVER
supported so how could they "no longer offer" it) and would do you no
good whatsoever. If the phone supported it (not all do), it would treat
it EXACTLY like the 1st number, i.e. it would ring as a voice call and
not go into data mode. You need a DATA number so that the phone will
recognize it as such and pass it on instead of ringing. A data number
*may* be assigned if you get a full data package but probably not for
wireless internet/CSD. It may need special provisioning. I just looked
thru all the data plans and there is no mention of incoming data/fax
support--has anyone managed to get a data number on Cingular?

In theory CSD would be all you needed for outgoing faxes. UNLESS the
data adapter "modem" on their end doesn't support faxing AT ALL. I use
CSD via IR from the laptop and pda for email but must admit I've never
tried to fax out (I use an online one-number service for both incoming
and outgoing faxes). What happens when the fax software dials?
--
Jud
Dallas TX USA

"Jud Hardcastle" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> [email protected] says...
> > I'm trying to set up fax over GSM. I have read
> > http://navasgrp.home.att.net/tech/cingular/fax.htm and I am still having
> > trouble.
> >
> > Cingular Tech support says I need whats called alternate line service,
which
> > they no longer offer, telling me that there is no way I can send a fax
over
> > my cell phone.
> >
> > My line is provisioned for CSD with "Wireless Internet" and I can dial
up to
> > my ISP with no problems.
> >
> > Is it absolutely necessary to have the alternate line service? Why
would
> > Cingular quit offering it?
> >
> > Thanks!
> > James
> >
> >
> >
>
> I think you need to speak to another support person because that one is
> BSing you. ALS is a 2nd VOICE number (which AFAIK Cingular has NEVER
> supported so how could they "no longer offer" it) and would do you no
> good whatsoever. If the phone supported it (not all do), it would treat
> it EXACTLY like the 1st number, i.e. it would ring as a voice call and
> not go into data mode. You need a DATA number so that the phone will
> recognize it as such and pass it on instead of ringing. A data number
> *may* be assigned if you get a full data package but probably not for
> wireless internet/CSD. It may need special provisioning. I just looked
> thru all the data plans and there is no mention of incoming data/fax
> support--has anyone managed to get a data number on Cingular?
>
> In theory CSD would be all you needed for outgoing faxes. UNLESS the
> data adapter "modem" on their end doesn't support faxing AT ALL. I use
> CSD via IR from the laptop and pda for email but must admit I've never
> tried to fax out (I use an online one-number service for both incoming
> and outgoing faxes). What happens when the fax software dials?
> --
> Jud
> Dallas TX USA


Jud,

I have attached the log file from the Fax Machine Lite software that shows
several failed attempts. I have also attached the .inf modem driver file,
which includes a line that says:

HKR, Responses, "FAX", 1, 03, 00, 00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00

but it does not lead to any hints on how to configure.

Basically what happens, is that the fax machine answers, the Fax Machine
Lite software says it is connecting, and then it says connected. The next
message displayed is "sending," and then it times out.

I have tried every configuration I can think of, 'Class 1 Modem,' Class 2
Modem,' etc., and cannot get anything to work.

The benefit of sending faxes would be so HUGE to me for work as I would have
the ability to fax quotes to customers directly from my laptop while
traveling in the car.

Thanks,
James

Well, what about using the data side of the phone to send a fax via one
of those online fax services? I use maxemail.com and it's very cheap.

In case you're not familiar with it you send a fax through their
service by addressing an email with an attachment (pdf and some others)
in a certain way.

s


In article <[email protected]>, ja
<[email protected]> wrote:

> "Jud Hardcastle" <[email protected]> wrote in
> message news:[email protected]...
> > In article <[email protected]>,
> > [email protected] says...
> > > I'm trying to set up fax over GSM. I have read
> > > http://navasgrp.home.att.net/tech/cingular/fax.htm and I am still having
> > > trouble.
> > >
> > > Cingular Tech support says I need whats called alternate line service,
> which
> > > they no longer offer, telling me that there is no way I can send a fax
> over
> > > my cell phone.
> > >
> > > My line is provisioned for CSD with "Wireless Internet" and I can dial
> up to
> > > my ISP with no problems.
> > >
> > > Is it absolutely necessary to have the alternate line service? Why
> would
> > > Cingular quit offering it?
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > > James
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > I think you need to speak to another support person because that one is
> > BSing you. ALS is a 2nd VOICE number (which AFAIK Cingular has NEVER
> > supported so how could they "no longer offer" it) and would do you no
> > good whatsoever. If the phone supported it (not all do), it would treat
> > it EXACTLY like the 1st number, i.e. it would ring as a voice call and
> > not go into data mode. You need a DATA number so that the phone will
> > recognize it as such and pass it on instead of ringing. A data number
> > *may* be assigned if you get a full data package but probably not for
> > wireless internet/CSD. It may need special provisioning. I just looked
> > thru all the data plans and there is no mention of incoming data/fax
> > support--has anyone managed to get a data number on Cingular?
> >
> > In theory CSD would be all you needed for outgoing faxes. UNLESS the
> > data adapter "modem" on their end doesn't support faxing AT ALL. I use
> > CSD via IR from the laptop and pda for email but must admit I've never
> > tried to fax out (I use an online one-number service for both incoming
> > and outgoing faxes). What happens when the fax software dials?
> > --
> > Jud
> > Dallas TX USA
>
>
> Jud,
>
> I have attached the log file from the Fax Machine Lite software that shows
> several failed attempts. I have also attached the .inf modem driver file,
> which includes a line that says:
>
> HKR, Responses, "FAX", 1, 03, 00, 00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00
>
> but it does not lead to any hints on how to configure.
>
> Basically what happens, is that the fax machine answers, the Fax Machine
> Lite software says it is connecting, and then it says connected. The next
> message displayed is "sending," and then it times out.
>
> I have tried every configuration I can think of, 'Class 1 Modem,' Class 2
> Modem,' etc., and cannot get anything to work.
>
> The benefit of sending faxes would be so HUGE to me for work as I would have
> the ability to fax quotes to customers directly from my laptop while
> traveling in the car.
>
> Thanks,
> James
>
>
> begin 666 FaxmachLOG.txt

> > The benefit of sending faxes would be so HUGE to me for work as I
> > would have
> > the ability to fax quotes to customers directly from my laptop while
> > traveling in the car....

> Well, what about using the data side of the phone to send a fax via one
> of those online fax services? I use maxemail.com and it's very cheap.
>
> In case you're not familiar with it you send a fax through their
> service by addressing an email with an attachment (pdf and some others)
> in a certain way.
>
> >
> > begin 666 FaxmachLOG.txt
>
Yes, I agree - I use a one-number phone/fax service also - no worry
about waiting for outgoing faxes to complete and I get a phone SMS
message when an incoming one arrives and can logon and look at it - and
send it on to someone else if needed.
Jud
Dallas TX USA