Accurate CARETM Feature Comparison with the Are You OK?®Telephone Reassurance Program
| Features | Database Systems Corp. | Are You OK?® |
 Jerry Pizet |
 |
|
| Type of Business | Database Systems Corp is primarily a call center business claiming about 16,000 calls a day. The vast majority of these calls are not related to Call Reassurance® (a subsidiary of Database Systems Corp) senior calling activities. | Are You OK?® is not in the call center business. Are You OK?® has always been a telephone reassurance software company. |
| Number of Analog Lines | 1-48 | 1. (why would you need more than one?) |
| Number of Digital Lines | 24 – 480 (unlimited with networked systems) |
None (In 31 years, no one has ever asked) |
| Operating Systems | CARE™ ships with Windows XP – no longer supported by Microsoft. This should not be confused with their parent company Database Systems, Corp which uses advanced operating systems as part of their their call center operations. | Windows XP – Windows 7 DOS Version discontinued in 2000 but still fully supported free of charge |
| PC Quality | Industrial / office – in other words, a stripped down home PC | Any computer running Windows XP or Windows 7 including laptops and netbooks, does not need to be dedicated. |
| Telecommunications | Dialogic telephony device with voice modem capabilities (this device is NOT a voice modem although it can emulate one) |
Way2CallTM Hi-Phone Desktop Lite TAPI Compliant Telephony Device (this device is NOT a voice modem although it can emulate one, a feature we do not use). |
| Answer Machine Detection | Multiple level detection on telephony board | Yes |
| Cell Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Text To Speech Messages | Yes with multiple TTS engine support | No – how impersonal do you want to get? |
| Restart On Power Off | Fully automatic with date and time restoration | Yes – all versions |
| Call Retries | Configurable | Configurable – all versions Busy signals and “no answers” can be configured separately. |
| Greeting Script | Standard greeting, custom greeting (including medication reminders), or random messages, all configurable per individual. | Yes – standard, special, custom messages and automatic birthday messages, configurable by individuals – all versions |
| Phone Key Responses | Touchphone key response can be custom programmed per center. | TouchTone® phone key support available – all versions. |
| Problem Notification | Automatically calls list of family and friends with fall back call to emergency center. Automatic alert is sent and displayed on CARETM monitor. | Report is sent to system operator. |
| Friendly Conversation | Phone system can connect the CARETM recipient with a “live” contact for a friendly chat. | None – Law Enforcement agencies do not have the manpower to support this. |
| Call Reminders | CARETM can send simple call reminders to individuals or answering machines | Yes – all versions |
| Call Reporting System | CARETM includes a complete set of standard reports with option to download data | Yes |
| I’m OK Today | CARETM PRO system allows seniors to call and automatically check in | No – This was tried by agencies in the ’80s and abandoned due to high false alarm rate. |
| Volunteers | CARETM system automatically works with volunteer organizations for emergency followup or friend chat. | Optionlly works in conjunction with volunteers for emergency follow up and friendly chats. |
| Call Latchkey Kids | Calls children at home and notifies parents if there is no answer | Yes – notifies system operator as many working parents cannot receive phone calls at their workplace. |
| Emergency Notification | Simultaneously broadcast emergency messages using any number of lists and recorded messages over multiple lines – important for emergency dispatch, community warnings, and emergency response center actions. | Yes – on one phone line – lets be clear on this – all these extra phone lines cost a lot of money and are completely unnecessary for most communities. |
| Cost | $7,500.00 and up Starts with “no frills” base version plus shipping and mandatory first year maintenance fee. Upgrades included in $700.00+ annual maintenance fee. |
$750.00 – Shipping and free lifetime technical support included. No hidden fees. 30-day money back guarantee. Upgrades from any version $250.00. Upgrades within versions are free of charge. |
| Support | With annual fee only ($700.00 and up depending on system options) during normal business hours. | Free for the life of all versions of RUOK® 24/7. |
| Development | Developed inhouse as a side project to their main business. | Four man inhouse programming team focused solely on RUOK. |
| Years in Telephone Reassurance | 9 |
31 |
| Installed Systems | Fewer than 80 | Over 2,000 |
CallingCare® features obtained from http://www.callingcare.com/ruok-program.htm, CallingCare® Quotations, and CallingCare® sales team
CallingCare® is a Registered TrademarK of Database Systems Corp.
Are You OK?® and RUOK® are the Registered Trademarks of Bruce L. Johnson and may not be used without permission
