News Briefs

--> Jefferson Pilot Financial launches service providing real-time pending updates over the Internet. --> Allfinanz was recognized with the ACORD Certification Honoree Award and the ACORD/NAILBA/NAVA Implementer Award. --> G2X releases Agility: Insurance 1.0, a Web-based version of its n-tier, J2EE G2X: Agility application for relationship management and new business processing.

Claims management solution provider eAutoclaims launched a car rental procurement offering within eJusterSuite, the firm's ASP for streamlining auto repair claims. The solution has already been adopted by Royal & SunAlliance (Charlotte, NC), which has completed its rollout to its material damage claims adjusting offices nationwide.

Commercial property cost estimation provider The Bluebook International (Lake Forest, CA) tapped San Francisco-based Cotelligent, Inc., to develop a new suite of products to automate claims handling activities for the insurance industry. Cotelligent will use Microsoft's (Redmond, WA) .NET platform and Web services technologies to develop the technology infrastructure for The Bluebook's B.E.S.T.Net software solution, which will provide a claims management hub and role-based portals accessible to insurance carriers, adjusters, contractors, agents and policyholders.

The newest version of Kamakura Corp.'s (Honolulu) integrated risk management solution, KRM Version 4.0, offers integration of credit scoring capabilities that enable managers to estimate default probabilities for individual retail and small business clients with any user-defined set of explanatory factors (including market and economic variables such as interest rates). Other enhancements include expansion of default probability estimation techniques, integrated credit derivatives valuation and pricing, and addition of default simulation for individual counterparties to KRM's asset/liability management and net income simulation capabilities.

London American General Agency (San Diego) has initiated a 10 percent premium discount with Scottsdale Insurance (Scottsdale, AZ) for taxi fleets using San Diego-based DriveCam's Driving Feedback System. DriveCam uses advanced video technology to record what drivers see and hear during unusual driving incidents.

Anthony O'Donnell has covered technology in the insurance industry since 2000, when he joined the editorial staff of Insurance & Technology. As an editor and reporter for I&T and the InformationWeek Financial Services of TechWeb he has written on all areas of information ... View Full Bio