Augur vs AlarmPoint and TelAlert

AlarmPoint, TelAlert, and Augur are all capable notification systems. They all are also cross-platform, for both server and client-side.  They offer scheduling, escalation, user groups, event filtering/subscriptions, multiple notification protocols, and many more features that you expect from mature notification solutions.

Augur is not intended to directly compete with commercial notification systems, but Augur’s built-in notification features may eliminate the need for such third-party add-ons when you are already using Augur for event monitoring.

Disclaimer

We are biased in our topics, but we try be fair.  We are not experts in other tools.  Please send us corrections if you think we got it wrong.

AlarmPoint and TelAlert

Designed as add-on solutions, these applications offer both integration features and manual operation.  Pricing is on par with the whole Augur solution.

Pro

Unique interactive voice features.  Detailed vacation/calendaring built-in.  “Find me” personal escalation.  Mature reporting tools.  Manually send group pages.  Ability to run arbitrary scripts from 2-way responses.

Con

Requires duplication of configuration effort (users, event types, etc.) to integrate with an event management system. 

Augur

Augur’s notification system is integrated as part of the event management solution.

Pro

Shared configuration (i.e. same users, alert filters, permissions, etc.).  Several messengers included (e.g. email), and more can be added as plug-ins. Specialized 2-way WAP option is designed so users can manage many alerts at once. 

Behavior is customizable via plug-ins (e.g. skip paging if an element in test mode per your configuration management system, or integrate to HR database to avoid paging employees who are currently out sick.)

Con

Although 24x7 scheduling is built-in, a custom calendar-based schedule would require plug-in development.  Not intended for manual broadcasting, although you could configure it to do so.