The Chronicle: Issue 2011-18, May 3, 2011
Distribution
iter8 products used to complete next phase in North Waterloo program to provide brokers ease of doing business.
iter8 Inc., an insurance solutions software developer, is pleased to announce that North Waterloo Farmers Mutual Insurance Company (North Waterloo) has gone live with their new broker portal. North Waterloo relies exclusively on a network of independent brokers, and made the decision to invest in technology to ensure their brokers have real-time access for quote and new business submissions for personal lines auto business.
illustrate inc. & Foresters Announce Release of Foresters Mobile Quotes.
TORONTO, April 20, 2011 - illustrate inc, a leading developer of point-of-sale technology solutions for the North American life insurance industry, and Foresters™, a life insurance provider committed to the well-being of families, have partnered to create Foresters Mobile Quotes, a new mobile application for use with selected Term and Whole Life products.
Keal Technology and iter8 Announce New Broker Connectivity Partnership.
TORONTO - April 28, 2011 - Keal Technology and iter8 are pleased to announce they have formed a partnership to deploy real-time broker connectivity between Keal's Broker Management Software (BMS) solution and iter8's communic8 software. The standards based solution will enable independent brokers to easily upload data from the Broker Management System to the carrier in a fast, easy-to-use, cost-effective manner.
Eastbridge's U. S. Worksite Sales Report: The recession catches up with voluntary/sales down for the first time ever.
AVON, CONNECTICUT, USA (April 26, 2011) - In 2010, voluntary/worksite sales declined 2.85 percent compared to 2009. Total 2010 voluntary sales are estimated at $5.243 billion, down from $5.397 billion in 2009."This is the first decrease that we have seen in the industry since we began tracking sales in 1997," says Gil Lowerre, president of Eastbridge.
Consumer Information
PC Financial first in Canada to offer on-the-go travel insurance in retail grocery stores.
Toronto, ON: April 14, 2011 - Canadians can enjoy their next vacation worry-free, knowing they are covered with PC Financial Travel Insurance To Go. With the launch of this innovative product, PC Financial is the first in Canada to offer travellers the opportunity to buy emergency medical travel insurance in a grocery store setting, while shopping for their last minute holiday needs.
IBC Challenging Ontarians to Be Prepared.
Toronto, ON - April 28, 2011 - Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is partnering with Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) to present the Emergency Preparedness Challenge for the second year in a row. The provincial initiative, aimed at increasing Ontarians' awareness and understanding of emergency preparedness, kicks off with the official launch of Emergency Preparedness Week on April 29 at Yonge-Dundas Square.
The I.I.I. Offers Coverage Information On Wedding Insurance.
NEW YORK, April 29, 2011 - Your nuptials may not be as extravagant as the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, but weddings in the U.S. can be extraordinarily expensive, so it is important to consider wedding insurance to financially protect your special day, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
Product Announcements
CIGNA Launches Enhanced International Employee Assistance Program.
CLAYMONT, Del., January 12, 2011 - CIGNA, the global leader in out-of-country benefits, has added 500 doctors and hospitals to its CIGNALinks® networks in major African countries through a new alliance with Medical Services Organisation based in South Africa. This brings the CIGNA network in Africa to 47,500 health care professionals and facilities ready to serve the globally mobile workforce and their families.
Policy and Product Management
Guidewire Software Announces New Version of PolicyCenter.
SAN MATEO, Calif., April 28, 2011 - Guidewire Software®, a leading provider of flexible core systems to property/casualty (P/C) insurers, today announced the availability of Guidewire PolicyCenter 7.0, the latest version of its underwriting and policy administration system.
Towers Watson Survey shows growing interest in telematics insurance.
London, 20 April 2011 - Over two thirds of UK drivers aged over 35 would consider having a telematics monitoring device fitted in their car to save money on their insurance, new consumer research commissioned by Towers Watson has shown. Willingness to potentially participate in a pilot scheme was higher still at 77%.
eBusiness and Technology
IBM Clouds embraced by Industry Leaders Worldwide to Transform Business Processes.
LAS VEGAS, - 11 Apr 2011: IBM (NYSE:IBM) today announced increased client adoption of its cloud computing software and services with more than 20 million end-user customers worldwide, making it one of the world's largest providers of software-as-a-service (SaaS).
Gartner Maps Out the Rapidly Evolving Market for Cloud Infrastructure as a Service.
STAMFORD, Conn., April 7, 2011 - Cloud infrastructure as a service (IaaS) represents a spectrum of services; there is no "one size fits all" service, and no single provider successfully addresses all segments of the market, according to Gartner, Inc. The market is poised for strong growth with worldwide IaaS forecast to grow from an estimated $3.7 billion in 2011 to $10.5 billion in 2014.
IBM Signs Technology Services Agreement with The Hartford to Support Business Initiatives.
ARMONK, N.Y., - 13 Apr 2011: IBM (NYSE: IBM) and The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG) announced today a new five-year technology services agreement to help The Hartford simplify and transform its technology infrastructure. The partnership is part of The Hartford's companywide effort to become a more cost-efficient and customer-focused organization.
Business of Insurance
Conning Research: Property-Casualty Industry Forecast through 2013 Released.
(Hartford, CT) April 25, 2011 - Slow-developing conditions among key insurance underwriting cycle indicators are increasing the uncertainty in critical insurance forecast drivers and likely delaying any near term recovery of firmer pricing conditions, according to the most recent edition of Conning's Property-Casualty Industry Forecast & Analysis.
IIABA: Selective and Insurance Information Institute participate in annual CEO panel.
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 19, 2011 - The economy was top of mind during Friday's CEO panel at the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America's (IIABA the Big "I") Legislative Conference & Convention. The panel consisted of Bill Berkley, W.R. Berkley Corporation chairman of the board and CEO; Jim Clay, Westfield Insurance CEO & Westfield group leader; Dr. Bob Hartwig, CPCU, Insurance Information Institute president; and Greg Murphy, Selective Insurance Company of America chairman, president & CEO. Robert Rusbuldt, Big "I" president & CEO, moderated the discussion and question and answer session.
from Doug:
Last week we enjoyed more sounds and sites of London. Together with others of the group we had been asked to a Canadian facility to watch the wedding on TV. We chose that route rather than spending the night like some of the group did on a sidewalk near Buckingham palace. Afterwards we walked the Mall and areas in front of Buckingham Palace and Westminster. The enthusiasm was still quite palpable. On Saturday met an old friend in Salisbury - England's tallest cathedral - caught up on current events and recounted lots of old ones. For Evensong on Sunday we sat in Poet's Corner in the south transept of Westminster Abbey - quite a thrill to see the decorations of two days prior and the memorials of so many authors from Shakespeare to Coward. During our exit we passed by stones to two from the American Revolution.
Monday we trained from London to Aberdeen in northeast Scotland. I had forgotten the extent to which buildings are made from stone - but how could I given the prolific contribution of Scottish stonemasons even in Canada.