The changes in this server-side update are:

Bugfix: Fixed a button display issue when using Opera to access the Portal
Bugfix: Sometimes a +0 was shown as sender in history list
Bugfix: Minor issues related to Portal login addressed
Bugfix: Unable to delete an unpaid fax
Feature: Added a “Logging you in” message after signing in (PamFax application only)
Feature: Password length feedback provided (when too short or too long)
Feature: Added the ability to add notes to a sent fax
Feature: Full name of purchased products are now shown in the PamFax Portal

A big new feature we added in this release is the “Recommend PamFax” option. We had this feature in PamFax2 but wanted to improve it and make it more attractive for our users. So, it took a while before we completed with this task.

You can recommend PamFax to your Skype contacts (as in PamFax2) and as new options we added Facebook, Twitter, email and promotion via a personalized link. This will enable you to recommend PamFax to different sets of user groups or just place the link on a blog site, etc. And the best thing of all is that for each user who signs up with PamFax we add one free fax page to your account automatically!

Note that server-side updates do not need a new installation of your PamFax application.

We are already working on the next release which will be a “feature release”. Our main focus with 3.0.5 is adding support for Dropbox, Box.net and Google Docs. We will provide seamless integration to your favorite document system allowing you to send any document from PamFax very easily. Stay tuned for more news as we get closer to a release (possibly even this year)!

We hope you like this update and enjoy using our service.

This time it was much longer than we had even dreamt of, but this was caused by a few server settings which our hosting partner fixed.

Thanks for hanging in during the upgrade process. I know some of you had a hard time when PamFax was offline.

Let me explain a bit why this update was so important and complex.

It all started last week when our hoster updated our server park to a full load balanced cluster. This was needed to cope with the increase in traffic we have had the past year. PamFax3 is much more efficient when it comes to scaling up so we decided now is a good time to put new hardware in as we need to do the upgrade anyway.

Then after the upgrade there were settings to be checked, etc. This took time. Then on Monday late afternoon (European time), we took PamFax offline. The team started to convert the databases and migrate users data to the new system. This is a huge amount of data so it took time. We unfortunately had to take PamFax offline to do this.

We did the databse conversion with the help of Amazon EC2 cloud servers, we had up to 15 running at a time!

After this we upgraded the core systems. These being the various modules PamFax consists of. PamFax3 is a complete new development and not a mere upgrade as the version number might imply.

Based on our experience and close monitoring of the PamFax2 system, we started designing PamFax3 back in summer last year. We wanted to have a very modular and scalable system which is able to process a lot of data and grow with us. We designed the system from scratch with these and other requirements in mind.

So, after the usual birth pains we’re now up and running. Thank you for hanging in during the upgrade process, I know it was not easy for some of you. I still hope you will forgive us this time as we do not do updates regularly (last one was PamFax2 in April 2009). We designed PamFax3 in such a way that we do not anticipate having to take the system down anymore!

You may now ask, what does PamFax3 offer? Well, first of all blazing fast fax delivery. In addition we redid the PamFax Portal design to be easier to use. There is also a new login/sign up screen. You can now login with your OpenID, Facebook, Twitter, Gmail and a bunch of other accounts. In addition many small improvements and features were added. The PamFax BCP was renamed to “My Company” to make the company group faxing capability a bit clearer.

Last but not least, in June/July we will also be adding a new client application of PamFax for Android.

For partners we now have the PamFax API, this allows you to fully embed the PamFax functionality easily and quickly into your application or device. We already have a few project going and plan to announce them soon. If you are interested to join, let us know. The same faxing cost model applies to the API as when using PamFax – however no additional charges are made when using the API.

We are very excited to have PamFax3 and hope you will enjoy our efforts. We’re back now with a very powerful platform and based on it we have many plans and ideas for new stuff. Stay tuned!

And as usual with such updates there is a lot of cleanup to do after the actual update has been completed. We are now in the process of doing this so please accept my appologies for any issues that are still there.

The team is working on improving the performance of the servers, there is an issue that needs to be addressed.

Another issue we are aware of is that the PamFax Windows application may show only a small window when starting PamFax. The team have identified the cause and are working on getting this fixed asap. As a workaround please login to the PamFax Portal and send your faxes from there.

Thank you everyone for your patience as we finish the cleanup of this new version.

As a concequence we will be switching over to an alternative “Pay As You Go” offer which will allow occasional PamFax users to still use PamFax “On Demand” without needing to buy a monthly plan. The minimum initial credit purchase will be €5 (Skype Credit was €0,99). The reason for the €5 amount is the cost associated with processing smaller amounts.

The good news is that PamFax is still the only product which allows you to send faxes by just paying a small pre-load amount.

This update will be done server side and will not require a PamFax update on your computer.

At that point you really get hit hard by reality again and that you can’t do anything in our job without internet and power.

After another 2 hours, the electrician found the problem: a new lamp that was just attached the day before in the corridor had some cabling issues that only came out now as the lamp was switched on the whole day and got warm. If we would have not had this lamp on for so long, this problem might have never occurred!

So the guy who attached this lamp will get fired immediately! I will check twice when attaching the next lamp so such a thing could not happen again.

Yes, redecorating the offices can be a fun thing…

Additionally, we have fixed the games in PamBot: try it by typing LUCKYSLOTS, WORDPLAY or BLACKJACK.

Try it now.

Have fun with Pamela

This update includes the following changes:
- Improved performance
- Fixed file upload for multiple files
- Added dashboard page in portal
- Improved website
- Optimized transmission reports
- Added “only send notification if an error occurs” setting to notification options
- Fixed relogin issue after sending a fax from Portal
- Group notification checked by default if more then one recipient
- Startup hint “unsent faxes” shows count of faxes, not recipients
- Improved “set password” dialog on first start
- “sent” time is only shown when fax was sent, not while it’s processed
- Improved Facebook and Salesforce.com plugin. i.e. now also show faxes from inbox

There are many minor changes and bugfixes included in this update “under the hood” which just improve PamFax in many small areas. I.e. it is now easier to find information on the website about the rates, the Salesforce.com and Facebook plugins are much better now and the PamFax application is much faster now.

I want to emphasis one new feature that this update brings: the new dashboard page in the portal. Whenever you open your PamFax Portal now, you will see the new dashboard page:

On the dashboard page, you will get a very nice overview over your settings (like PamFax username, language, currency, date format, personal fax number, …) and your latest faxes (sent and received) and you are also able to change all these settings very easily by direct links into the settings of the application. Many of you have been asking for a one page overview of your account and settings – so here you go.

As this is an update on the server side there is no need for you to re-download the PamFax application. Just start PamFax and you will be using the new features!

What do you think? What needs to be added to the dashboard page? Comments welcome!

We also did some changes to the website at www.pamfax.biz. New is a twitter feed on the home page as well as some other minor changes.

Detailed changelog:

- Fixed: Empty inbox bug
- Fixed: Error when saving settings containing some special characters
- Fixed: Missing fax-in email notifications
- Fixed: Rounding issue in DRM calculation for Skype payments
- Change: Timezone detection algorithm and date/time formatting routines
- Feature: Added automatic country/timezone/language/currency detection for non-Skype users
- Feature: Change localization settings in portal

Note: No application update is required with this update.

ChangeLog PamFax Server 2.0.11.x

• Feature: New links to check if your area code is available for a fax-in number (www.pamfax.biz/en/introduction/fax-number)
• Change: Improved rates calculation on www.pamfax.biz/rates
• Change: Deleted and unpaid faxes are not shown in portal anymore
• Fixed: Bug in document upload module
• Fixed: Bug in selectfile when cancelling open-file dialog
• Fixed: Bug where you could purchase a PamFax Pro Plan and not select an area code on the shopping checkout page

Changelog:

PamFax Server Platform 2.0.10
Fixed: Removed flash document uploader for improved reliability
Fixed: Macintosh application could hang when uploading same file again
Fixed: Issues from error logs and automatic reporting. Improved stability
Fixed: Bug when hovering on submenu-items in portal
Fixed: Missing prices/countries on rates page in PamFax Portal
Fixed: Display of incorrect Skype country for some Macintosh users
Fixed: Hopefully fixed bug with pending faxes where payment was done after the fax was submitted
Change: Changed zone calculation for service and mobile numbers
Change: Added notification settings explanation
Change: Unpaid faxes are deleted after 3 days (was 30 before)
Change: Removed some fax-in area codes (provider related, service level could not be guaranteed)

PamFax application 2.0.x.16 (PamFax Windows only)
Fixed: Installer no longer flashes but downloads all files at once
Change: Removed check if Flash is installed
Change: Updated scanner module with better scanner support
Feature: Availability of a full install package which does not download anything (Link: http://www.pamfax.biz/PamFaxFullInstaller.exe)

Vista Sidebar Gadget 2.0.0.11
Feature: Added PamFax inbox so you can see incoming faxes
Feature: Added auto-update function
Fixed: Occasional disconnect with “server error”