🚀 go-pugleaf

We have an application that has the following characteristics

-  Will have 2 PCs at remote locations connected via phone line.
-  Will need to download images as well as data.

There is a suggestion that we use fax/modems. The reason being that
we can make use of any compression that the fax hardware does and also
that the central (server) site will be able to receive images from other
sites with only paper fax machines. The questions that arise are :

-  Do fax cards incorporate data compression? What kind? How effective?
-  Is there available fax software (esp Windows based) that will allow
   a program to operate the fax card via API or a software library? I
   may also have to be able to obtain the image data for some image 
   processing.
-  Given the second point above, preferbly should incorporate scanner
   support also in the API.
-  I assume that I can easily use the fax card alternately as a fax
   machine as well as a data modem. Can I confirm this?
-  If I use the fax card as a data modem, can I also make use of
   hardware compression facility? How? 
-  Can I manipulate the resolution of the fax? ie can I have 150dpi,
   300dpi, 100dpi etc fax?

I certainly hope someone can answer these questions as well as provide
recommendations for products. Any advice is appreciated - as you may
guess, I know nothing about fax technology and certainly nothing about
PC Fax applications.

Thank you very much.

jin meng