SMITH MICR HOTFAX MESSAGECENTER PRO ( HFMCMACKESMS1118 )

Running on a Mac--with a supported voice and fax modem--HotFax MessageCenter Pro lets you set up a multiple-tiered voice mail system in minutes. You can organize your voice mail by department or service with mailbox folders that can contain three mailbox types: standard (contains an outgoing message and stores incoming calls), info only (contains only outgoing messages), and fax on demand (sends a fax to a number entered by the caller). You can set secondary outgoing messages that are used at certain times (outside of business hours, for example) and can even have the MessageCenter notify you by phone or pager of messages awaiting your attention. There is a speakerphone--unfortunately not supported by the iMac's modem--and support for caller ID and call forwarding if your modem and phone system are compatible.

The bundled FAXstf Pro handles faxing, and although it's a separate application the packages are well integrated. You also get FAXstf Pro's full feature set: fax from any application in 256 shades of gray for stellar document reproduction, easily organize faxes in the browser, and use tools to immediately make notes on received faxes (handy if you want to quickly fax back comments). With HotFax MessageCenter Pro your business can easily sound bigger--and better. --Jack Gardiner

Amazon.com Product Description
Smith Micro Software's HotFax Message Center Pro answers calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week--after normal business hours and when you are away. And it will even page you! Far beyond the capabilities of the conventional telephone/answering machine, HotFax Message Center Pro is a full-featured, low-cost voice mail and fax solution designed especially for small office or home environments.

This application also includes a free copy of FAXstf PRO, which offers an elegant new interface to simplify fax management. This application supports over 400 different modems and includes STF standard features of QuickNote, Smart Dialing, background imaging, fax scheduling, a superior grayscale of 256 shades of gray, and the ability to combine faxes.

SmithMicro, answered as follows, when I complained that the program did not work and asked for a refund.

Unfortunately, Hot Fax Message Center Pro for Mac has been discontinued on the count of too many compatibility problems.
FAXstf 6.0.3 is still featured on our web site for $59.95, upgrade $39.95. This is sotfware strictly for sending/receiving faxes via your MAC running OS 9.

Do not waste your money on this program!


It does the job (mostly)   January 14, 2003
Joe Wheeler (Victoria, BC Canada)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I've had very few problems with this software; mostly, using a US Robotics external voice modem, the caller ID isn't supported (which would be neat, as it can display incoming calls as a sticky). I was delighted that the program would let me record voice messages using the Andrea USB microphone I'd acquired with ViaVoice, for very clear messages.

The best deal is, the program comes bundled with Fax STF version 5, but that package had problems, so there is a free upgrade available from SmithMicro that will take the version all the way to 6.0.5., which bought alone is only $10 less than the entire HFMS + STF package. STF 6.0.5 is a mature full-featured fax program.

The other disappointment is HotFax originally would discriminate calls and pass off incoming faxes automatically to Fax STF. That feature seems to have been removed, even from the PDF Manual, though mention is made of it in online help docs.
And, the fax on demand feature is very slow for the incoming caller, but it does work. All in all lots of powerful features for a budget-priced program.


Works fine for me...   September 10, 2001
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I have been using this software for about a year on my iMac DV. It has worked fine, and has more than paid for itself by allowing me to discontinue my phone company voicemail. I hope this, or another product with voicemail capabilities is developed for OS X.


Pure agony!   August 15, 2000
19 out of 21 found this review helpful

OK, I'm calmed down enough now to write a review that will not offend younger or more sensitive viewers....

I've used easily two or three dozen software packages in my life, probably more. HotFax is easily the worst I've ever come across. My short time with it was a trip through...well, through sheer torment. After I'd spent my evening installing it, I tried to get online to register it. HotFax had toasted my modem. According to my computer, I didn't even HAVE a modem after HotFax got through. Going all through the documentation didn't produce any clues. Their help desk had gone away. The middle of the night, and I was all alone with a toasted modem. As last resort, I uninstalled EVERYTHING having to do with HotFax. It's easily UNinstalled; it's only saving grace. That finally brought my modem back online, although it froze up again when I tried to access their website.

I can't find my receipt, and I just hope my friendly local store (where I buy most of my stuff) will take it back, anyway. I'm through with it. The only reason my review gave it one star is because I didn't have the option of zero stars.

My advice: go elsewhere! Don't put yourself through what I just went through. There's *gotta* be a better fax package somewhere!