Because of international standards, fax transmissions are slower than data connections, with a maximum speed of 14.4 Kbps. The fanciest modems throw in regular telephone circuitry with their data and fax capabilities. With a microphone and speakers, you can use these modems as speakerphones. Some external speakerphone modems have microphones built right into the case. External vs. internal design.
Modems come in two flavors.
External modems are encased in small boxes which sit on your desk and connect to your computer's serial port with a cable. Internal modems are circuit boards that fit into an expansion slot inside your computer. Internal modems are generally cheaper, while external modems are easier to transfer to another computer. Internal modems draw electricity from the computer's main power supply, while external modems must be plugged in separately. External modems also have flashing lights that make it easier to monitor your transmission.