I’ve been meaning to upgrade (downgrade? sideways-grade?) to a virtual fax number for a while. Our shared office fax is on its last legs. I’ve signed up for a trial with eFax, which charges CAN $18/month to send and receive faxes.
When I signed up, I received the following number: (see below). Because the number looks so generic, I was confused. If lots of locals have this number, how would eFax know which faxes are mine? A pretty basic question, I know, but I couldn’t figure it out.
So, I called eFax and spoke to a nice, very patient Indian fellow. After talking around the problem for a bit, we confirmed that I just got lucky and received this generic-looking number. Apparently it’s unique to me. What are the odds?
UPDATE: Ah, slick fax number be damned. In retrospect, $18/month is a lot to spend for a service I barely use. Plus, John speaks so highly (see below) of myfax, I’m switching to its US $10/month plan. Plus, I get a toll-free number. Not so slick, but who cares: 1-866-808-8330.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
Faxing is such an obsolete technology. Why does anybody use this anymore?
Less than 1 in 1000 (depending on how you define “generic-looking number”).
Some types of numbers that may look generic:
whole thousands (ie 9000),
series (ie 1234),
repeating (ie 4444),
etc…
More than 1 in 1000. There are 10 whole thousands in the 10000 4-digit number space, so there’s your 1 in 1000 right there. Add to that repeats,runs, etc, and your odss improve.
Define “generic” and I’ll tell you your odds.
I was very surprised, on moving to Canada from Europe, to discover the fax still alive and kicking as a widespread form of communication here. So awkward, fiddly and inelegant.
I trust MyFax as far as eFaxing services are concerned. I tested many services and MyFax is the one I like and trust the most. It is definitely the best quality product with the best service care. Check their website – http://www.myfax.com – a winner for sure!
MyFax is also very reasonably priced and they have a lucrative affiliate program.
John
I use eFax and have to say — it’s great. Time from fax send to arriving in my email box is sometimes seconds, rarely delayed. And it’s never been down and it’s never had hangups. Our number is 1/1000th less generic than yours was: 604 357-5001
Too late to get that number back, Darren?
MyFax may look good on the surface, but they are operated by a company called Protus, who is a known junk faxer. See their disturbing profile on junkfax.org. Do not support this ilicit company!
Try Simplifyfax. Sign up for a plan, you get a free fax number, plus lets you send and receive a fax. Amazing service!