j2 has been providing free inbound fax and voice mail US numbers since long ago, thanks for the service. However client side software evolved over the years. Particularly, I am eventually interested in opening faxes and messages that drop into my email and have custom formats, .gsm for voice mail and .efx (there was also another .?fx) for fax.
Long ago the application was “download and use” without special installation requirements. It shown graphics, played back audio and allowed to save as .wav (well known format for audio and I believe well known GSM 6.10 codec was in use). I am not sure about ads, as far as I remember the ad was just an extra toolbar visible by default.
Later they packaged application into setup. You download, install, use, uninstall via Add/Remove Programs… There is no problem with this and basically this is correct and widely used method. Advertisements got somewhat more annoying though.
Recently I downloaded a fresh version… Installation procedure freezed to sync with the website, singup reminder became more annoying, export to WAV has been removed!!! Uninstallation required reboot and on booting up at logon time it again froze to connect to website (before I could actually enable VPN connection). Oh, Yahoo Toolbar was included or it was not?
What is going to be next to make it absolutely unacceptable for eventual use?