They require costly IDD connections. Remote Access - Direct modem to modem connections have a data rate transfer of 9.6 kbps as well. They too need IDD connections. On top of that, email is billed at only local call rates. The advantages of email over the two other methods of data transfer become even more pronounced when it comes to sending and receiving photographs.
Facsimile machines are useless for sending photographs or infographics.
And modem to modem connections are not only slow, they are unreliable. This adds to the cost of transfer. Which means that roughly one in three pictures may need to be re-sent. At IDD rates. And so our outstation photographers turned to the Internet and email.