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




Claims

Guidewire Sets New Performance Standard For Insurance Claims Solutions.
SAN MATEO, CA, October 3, 2007 - Guidewire Software®, a leading global provider of solutions to property and casualty and workers' compensation insurers, today announced that it has set a new standard for performance and scalability of insurance claims solutions, achieved on an IBM hardware platform.

Distribution

Keal Technology Announces VoIP Integration with sigXP for the Canadian Insurance Brokerage Community.
CONCORD, Ontario, Canada - October 4, 2007 - On September 27th in Quebec City, Keal Technology announced to its national user group, Canadian sigXP/Signassure Users (CSU), their commitment to offer VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) integration with Keal's flagship Broker Management System (BMS) sigXP. This is the first integration of its kind in Canada. Telephony integration will bring significant efficiencies to brokers across Canada; it will offer brokers the same tools that direct writers have been using for years.

Optimum General Inc. becomes a Full Partner of the Broker Identity Program: IBAC.
September 26, 2007 - Toronto - The Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC) is pleased to announce that Optimum General Inc. becomes a Full Partner of the Broker Identity Program for 2007. The Program's centre-piece is the BIP symbol known as the BIPPER. The symbol captures the value that insurance brokers bring their clients: coverage and security.

LIMRA and CFM Partners Ally to Help Broker-Dealers Tackle Tough Compliance Challenges.
Washington, D.C. and Windsor, CT, October 1, 2007 - LIMRA International and CFM Partners today announced the formation of a new strategic alliance to provide online compliance solutions to LIMRA members. Now broker-dealers can leverage LIMRA's compliance expertise and CFM's web-based technology, Access ComplianceT, to develop, communicate, and manage policies and procedures for regulatory compliance.

Policy and Product Management

North Waterloo Farmers Mutual Insurance Company contracts with iter8 for Broker Connectivity and Automated Underwriting Software.
Toronto, October 2007 - iter8, an insurance software solutions vendor, is pleased to announce that North Waterloo Farmers Mutual Insurance Company (North Waterloo) has committed to implement the iter8 Broker Communication and Connectivity and Automated Exception-Based Underwriting solutions.


Product Announcements

Allstate Insurance Company pioneers new product: "Your Choice Home".
"Your Choice Home" insurance product offers personalized options to meet a range of unique consumer needs. Customers will select the home insurance policy that meets their needs, and, in addition, now have the option of choosing from several specialty coverages that best reflect their individual lifestyle.

AIG United Guaranty combines Identity Theft Insurance with Mortgage Insurance.
TORONTO, Oct. 8 - AIG United Guaranty(1) now helps to protect more homeowners with the added security of Personal Identity Theft Insurance. Underwritten by American Home Assurance Company, a member company of American International Group, Inc.(AIG), this value-added coverage is made available to all AIG United Guaranty lending partners through a simple opt-in process.

Manulife Investments offers first lifetime Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit for Canadians.
TORONTO, Oct. 1, 2007 - One of the most popular retirement planning products to hit the Canadian marketplace in years, Manulife Investments' IncomePlus, has been enhanced to offer guaranteed retirement income for life, to address a growing financial concern among older Canadians.

Reference and Statistics

MIB Life Index Reports North American Life Insurance Activity off 3.7% in August.
Westwood, MA. - (September 28, 2007) North American application activity for individually underwritten life insurance was down -3.7% in August, year-over-year according to the MIB Life Index ?. Year-to-date (YTD) U.S. and Canadian application activity remained level from July's volume, off -3.3% compared to the same period last year.

Business of Insurance

LIMRA and LOMA Boards Agree to Unite; Members to Vote.
Windsor, CT, and Atlanta, GA, September 27, 2007 - The boards of directors of LIMRA International and LOMA have approved the proposal to unite two of the world's largest insurance and financial services trade organizations and will submit a recommendation to their members for a decisive vote.

USA Legal and Regulatory Actions Aimed at Annuities Market Fuels Major Changes for Insurance Industry: TowerGroup.
NEEDHAM, MA, September 27, 2007 - Aggressive moves by state attorneys general to hold insurance companies responsible for annuity suitability are poised to drive major changes in how the insurance industry approaches this class of products. "Suitability" refers to the determination of whether the terms of a specific annuity product offering are appropriate to a given individual, based on factors such as his or her age, financial and tax status, and desired investment outcome.


Consumer Information

Manitoba Driver Ed Challenge tests driving skills and knowledge of novice drivers.
Oct. 1, 2007 - Thousands of young Manitoba drivers are eligible to win laptop computers, iPods and educational scholarships offered as prizes in this year's Manitoba Public Insurance Driver Ed Challenge.

The I.I.I. Suggests Ways that Consumers Can Improve their Credit Histories.
NEW YORK, September 28, 2007 - Having a solid credit history can affect consumers in a surprising number of ways. Credit histories influence everything from renting an apartment and getting a mortgage to applying for a job or qualifying for a lower rate on auto or home insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

Marketing and the Market Place

One In Eight (13%) Canadians Plan To Start A Business In Next Five Years: Ipsos Reid Poll for RBC.
September 28, 2007 - Toronto, ON - It appears that the lure of being one's own boss could be driving Canadians towards a life of entrepreneurship. A new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of RBC reveals that 13% of Canadians indicate that they plan to start a business or become self-employed within the next five years. More specifically, 39% of aspiring entrepreneurs are located in the province of Ontario, with 19% being from Quebec, 17% from British Columbia, 13% from Alberta, 7% from Atlantic Canada, and 6% of those intending to start their own location living in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Our People

Insurers in Chaudière-Appalaches Region of Quebec Seek to Generate 3,000 new jobs over Five Years
The region's insurers take action by creating the Centre de développement en assurances et services financiers. Its chief mission is to promote the many career opportunities available for young people, find ways to improve the English language skills of existing and future employees, and tell people about the industry and all it has to offer.

eBusiness and Technology

IDC Asia/Pacific Software Survey Reveals that Security Protection Is The Prime Deciding Factor in Open Source Technology Deployment.
Singapore and Hong Kong, September 27, 2007 - According to IDC's survey report "The Momentum of Open Source: Adoption Plans and Challenges in Australia, Korea, India and the People's Republic of China", the top most influential factor for deploying open source technology was better protection against security breaches.

Gartner Says Worldwide IT Services Market On Track to Grow 9 Percent in 2007.
STAMFORD, Conn., September 17, 2007 - Despite the slowing U.S. economy, growth in IT services is expected to remain solid as worldwide IT services end-user spending is forecast to exceed $730 billion in 2007, up 8.7 percent from 2006, according to Gartner, Inc.

from Doug:

The turkey was good, as were all the trimmings. Visits with family at different times and places over the weekend were equally enjoyable. Mum and Dad have made the next step along life's journey by joining, with friends, the waiting list for a senior's home, and are looking forward to it. So much to be thankful for. I hope you too are of the same mind.


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