Customer experience

Following the first quarter of integration activities, Prudential Retirement, a business of Prudential Financial, Newark, N.J. has moved out of the initial planning phase of integration and is now focused on the next phase, implementation of enhanced products and services for the retirement markets it serves."In just about 100 days, we've built the foundation for a new, stronger, and more dynamic Prudential Retirement," says John Y. Kim, president of Prudential Retirement. "In fact, strategic plans have been completed for all full-service retirement businesses, each of which is now working hard to enhance existing products and develop new ones," he adds.

Group Health Incorporated (GHI), a statewide not-for-profit health insurer in New York, has launched several new initiatives that improve customer service for its members, from 100% online plan enrollment to disseminating important coverage updates through brief automated phone calls.GHI has partnered with Sunnyvale, Calif.-based eHealthInsurance Inc. to enable individuals and small businesses to purchase health insurance coverage with GHI online, in real time and without any printing, signing or mailing of forms. Applicants simply log on to www.eHealthInsurance.com, submit the required data, credit-card information for the first month's payment and authorize the transaction with an "e-signature." Approved applicants are covered beginning on the first day of the next calendar month.

New York--The Catastrophe Risk Exchange International, Inc. (CATEX) announced today that it has completed delivery of a Web based Property Aggregate Monitoring System to facilitate the underwriting of facultative property business by the reinsurer QBE Reinsurance Corporation (QBE).

SOMERS, NY --IBM today unveiled new PartnerWorld Industry Networks for independent software vendors (ISVs) focused on the government and insurance industries. IBM also introduced new technical offerings and expanded initiatives that can help ISVs participating in the PartnerWorld Industry Networks speed solution development and ensure interoperability with IBM's middleware portfolio.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.-- UnumProvident has received a top ranking for the success of its individual income protection insurance sales, according to JHA's 2003 U.S. Individual Disability Market Survey.

NEW YORK-- Swiss Re's chief economist said today that strong economic growth, coupled with a slight uptick in inflation, will force the Federal Reserve to raise the federal funds rate to close to 2 percent by the end of 2004.

The Guardian Life Insurance Co, of America, New York, has selected iLinc Communications Inc. to provide Web conferencing for the insurers' 5,500 employees and 2,800 financial representatives in 94 agencies nationwide.Phoenix-based iLinc Communications offers integrated Web and audio conferencing solutions using a combination of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) that can reside inside an organization's network. This combination provides end-to-end security for all data, video, and voice-over-IP exchanged within an online meeting, according to iLinc.

SPOKANE, Wash.-- Itronix Corp., a developer of wireless, rugged mobile computing solutions, announced today that its GoBook II wireless, rugged laptop has been certified by the insurance industry's top three software providers, including ADP Claims Services Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Automatic Data Processing, Inc., CCC Information Services Inc., and Mitchell International Inc.

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa.-- Coventry First, the creator and leader of the secondary market for life insurance, today applauded the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for overwhelmingly approving a new Model Regulation which governs life settlements.

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. -- Sun Life Financial announced today that Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies, has launched Sun Life Financial Masters, a re-branding of its variable annuity line.