Issue 2010-49 -- December 7, 2010

This newsletter is for members of the Canadian Insurance Industry and those who serve it. The newsletter is published weekly, and notes information about the use of the Internet and related technologies in the industry, insurance products and the marketplace. Some is international, where we feel it is relevant to Canada.




Distribution

iter8 products used to develop new connected agent portal for Providence Mutual.
November 30, 2010: iter8 Inc., an insurance solutions software developer, is pleased to announce that Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company (Providence Mutual) has completed the first phase in their new agent portal.

Claims

CDRG: Meridian Group Expands.
CDRG Certified Member, Meridian Group, has opened a second Montreal location on November 1, 2010 at #6, 3284 1ere Rue, St-Hubert, on Montreal's South Shore. The decision to open a second location was taken when demand for their services increased, along with a desire to offer their clients the best quality service coupled with faster response times.

Policy and Product Management

Celent Report: North American Life Insurance New Business and Underwriting Systems, 2010.
Boston, MA, November 22, 2010 - Insurers are increasingly looking at new business and automated underwriting systems to help address growth, fulfill service and distribution mandates, and reduce the cost per policy issued. New business and automated underwriting systems have gone through an evolution over time.

MajescoMastek acquires the assets of SEG Software, LLC.
New York, Dec 1, 2010: MajescoMastek, the U.S. subsidiary of global technology solutions provider Mastek Limited (BSE: MASTEK), announced today that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Glastonbury, CT based SEG Software, LLC, a leading provider of policy administration systems covering individual and group life, health & annuity insurance products.

eBusiness and Technology

Novarica: Cloud and SaaS at US Insurers: Experience and Expectations.
Cloud offerings (including cloud-based software and platform offerings) and SaaS solutions are more than just the latest buzz. Large insurers are starting to invest in leveraging these noteworthy technologies (discussed at length in a companion Novarica report), and small to midsized insurers are following suit.

Gartner Says Cloud Computing Heralds An Evolution of Business, No Less Influential than the Era of E-Business.
STAMFORD, Conn., November 24, 2010 - After many years of germination, the core ideas at the heart of cloud computing - pay for use, mulitenancy, external services - appear to be resonating more strongly for more people, according to Gartner, Inc.


Marketing and the Market Place

eMarketer: Canadians Say Yes to Social Media.
NOVEMBER 29, 2010 - Canada boasts some of the world?s highest internet penetration and social networking usage rates. Social network users view social media as their online home - a hub for communication, entertainment and information.

Product Announcements

XL Insurance Unveils Privacy and Network Liability Coverage for Canadian Companies.
TORONTO, Dec. 2, 2010 - XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of XL Group plc (XL), today announced the availability of cyberliabilty protection for Canadian businesses with the local release of its technology insurance products, XL Eclipse and XL EclipsePro.

Business of Insurance

New Swiss Re sigma study examines the impact of the financial crisis and changing regulations on insurers? asset management.
Zurich, 23 November 2010 - Investment performance has become the number one concern for many insurers in the wake of the financial crisis and amid a changing regulatory environment. Swiss Re's latest sigma study "Insurance investment in a challenging global environment" cautions that a low yield environment coupled with tighter regulatory standards could hamper insurers' investment returns, leading to lower profits for the industry and higher rates for policyholders.

Guy Carpenter Annual Survey Finds Program Administrators and Managing General Agents Identify Key Challenges.
New York, November 11, 2010 - Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, the leading global risk and reinsurance specialist and a part of the Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE: MMC), today published the results of its yearly survey of the Program Administrators and Managing General Agents (PA/MGA) market.

Consumer Information

CAA: Winter Driving Survival Guide.
THORNHILL, ON, Nov. 26 2010 -Snow, slush, ice and cold weather can make driving tricky, but it doesn't have to be. Basic winter driving tips can help keep you safe on the road. Remember to slow down and stay alert.

Transport Canada: Are You Ready to Face the Rigours of Winter?
OTTAWA, Nov. 25 2010 - Transport Canada would like to remind Canadians to be prepared for winter driving and to drive safely throughout the coming season. Ice- and snow-covered roads can be a challenge for drivers, so give yourself every advantage by preparing yourself and your vehicle before setting out on Canadian roads this winter.

Aviva Data Shows 47% More Auto Insurance Claims During Winter Months.
November 30, 2010 - As parts of the country prepare for their first big blast of winter, Aviva Canada, one of the country's leading insurance providers, is reminding drivers to exercise caution on the roadways. According to historical data, Aviva Canada sees an average increase of over 47 per cent in customer auto claims during the winter months compared to the rest of the year.

Allstate: Don't Get Caught in the Cold - 10 Tips to Winter-proof Your Home.
Toronto, November 30, 2010 - Your home may protect you from the harsh winds and chilling temperatures of a Canadian winter, but have you taken steps to protect it? House fires and water damage to a home, particularly from frozen pipes bursting, are some of the top issues Canadians face during the winter months, according to Allstate Insurance Company of Canada claims data.

Sun Life survey shows majority of Canadians avoid making healthy choices.
TORONTO, Dec. 1 2010 - Eating a balanced diet, being active and getting enough sleep are things we know we should do every day, but are we? According to the Sun Life Canadian Health Index(TM) compiled by Ipsos Reid, eight out of ten Canadians (81 per cent) believe that common diseases are completely or mostly preventable, yet almost two-thirds (63 per cent) have adopted a pattern of unhealthy behaviours.

from Doug:

The Christmas season is upon us. On the weekend, we enjoyed a Christmas dinner with the executive members of the heritage group I belong to and a solstice gathering of some of the families from the school our sons attended many years ago - old memories spring forth at such times. Today a dusting of snow to contrast the greenery and lights of the decorations everywhere. I am getting into the spirit; hope you are too.


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