Digital Platforms

Insurers looking to create smartphone applications may want to first examine findings from a study of mobile apps and security threats on both iPhone and Android devices.

Many insurers are now securing their databases by "data masking," which removes confidential data elements and replaces them with usable, fictitious data.

The latest version of ActiveBatch includes SOA and Web service tools.

Insurers want to engage distribution network, drum up sales with technology.

Banks are starting to allow non-Web banking customers to access their accounts via their mobile devices; would this also work for insurers?

In the wake of the economic crisis, the once-maligned annuity is bringing in a bigger share of advisors' revenues. With a massive wave of retirees on the horizon—and both regulators and burned investors hungry for guaranteed income for the aged—the annuity business' moment is here.

As Blue Cod plans continued U.S. expansion, GE’s investment will go toward enhancing Blue Cod’s sales and operations team.

Aetna, Aflac and Travelers all announce positive earnings.

New SNL study charts changes in executive compensation, AIG chief Benmosche top in base salary but lags behind peers, subordinates in total pay.

An ex-employee and a co-conspirator are charged with stealing close to $1 million from the supplemental insurer over a year and a half.

Regulators at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission have directed The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., to provide additional details on $2.1 billion of securities that have traded at less than half of what the company says they're worth for more than a year, Bloomberg reports.

Fitch downgrades AEGON N.V. and AEGON Americas, affirms Pacific Life; S&P reacts to AIG’s board chairman change.

Board is seeking nominations for appointments to its consumer advisory council.

Hard drives were stolen from a facility the health insurer had leased from a call center, impacting almost 1 million members.

Forrester analyst doesn't believe social business intelligence is simply a fad, and that it holds value for insurers.

The government released interim final regs aimed at creating a system of checks and balances for internal and external appeals processes of health claims.

Health insurers using “accounting tricks” to undercut the MLR law, charges political action group.

As also seen in the United States, technology isn’t the only deciding factor for UK brokers placing business, according to a new survey.

Feinberg says compensation committees should be able to cancel payments to executives in extreme circumstances.

The forum was created as a way to allow clients a place to connect and discuss changes within health care reform.

The commercial satellite risk protection covers satellite replacement, and protects against operational risk.

The first ripples from regulatory reform are already being felt.

Insurer ponders investment strategies as it prepares for a positive coming year.

Insurers’ position strong in spite of some valuations being reviewed for credit quality, Fitch Ratings reports.

Directors' and officers' liability insurance (D&O), along with errors and omissions (E&O) coverage and fiduciary liability, constitute property and casualty (P&C) insurers' most direct underwriting exposure to the financial crisis, says Moody's Investors Service.

The American Medical Association says the lack of complete EHR systems on the market makes it hard for physicians to implement and use the technology before the Jan. 1, 2011 deadline.

The latest version, which includes 4-D structural knowledge of hurricanes, is designed to consider building characteristics such as roof age and type, window protection and glass percentage.

Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development center, released the first functional typhoon model to assess all of Asia.

Creating a council to detect systemic risks and building a consumer financial protection bureau are just two of the major challenges now facing regulators, says a panel of experts.

Conning Research says premium rebound will lag economic recovery.

Federal Insurance Office and rule-making phase are front-of-mind as Obama signs landmark legislation.

"All told, these reforms represent the strongest consumer financial protections in history," the President said.

ISO and Atmospheric and Environmental Research team to deliver instant online weather forensic data through ISO ClaimSearch.

The move is intended to foster further adoption of industrywide standards for data exchange between insurance carriers and distributors.

As stalemate on unemployment bill is broken, federal health insurance subsidy absent from legislation.

The tech companies collaborated on an ERM framework designed to help carriers comply with the 2012 Solvency II regulations.

How the Fed's new authority will be exercised is unknown, but it embodies a major shift in the thinking about, and approach to, functional oversight since previous legislation on the topic.

Recent study notes low customer satisfaction among corporate risk managers as carriers and brokers retrench to improve their own bottom lines.

In wake of health care debate, Leslie Margolin takes leave to head coalition.

Fitch affirms Aetna and Lloyd’s of London ratings; A.M. Best upgrades NAICO; S&P lowers ratings on Cincinnati Financial Corp.'s operating insurance companies.

Once the bill is signed regulators will have the task of implementing hundreds of regulations and commencing dozens of studies.

Commercial property & casualty business is suffering from excess capacity in the hunt for market share, resulting in another quarter of declining renewal pricing, according to The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers’ second quarter Commercial P/C Market Index Survey. On average, renewal rates dropped by about 6% in the second quarter, compared with a 5% decrease in the first quarter of 2010, notes CIAB.

Organizations are most fearful that the return on investment isn't worth the cost of ownership.

Two of the industry’s top advocates in Washington give INN an inside look as landmark legislation passes.

Reported to be the 10th-largest securities class action settlement in U.S. history, AIG will pay $175 million within 10 days of preliminary court approval of the settlement. AIG also expected to name Mark Wilson AIA Group CEO.

Ascinsure Specialty Risk to offer insurance solutions for crane owners and operators, scaffolding, rental equipment and party goods dealers and all types of inland marine markets.

Insurers may want to note that as the use of mobile banking increases, many consumers still prefer traditional channels for more-complex transactions.

Life insurers have rebounded from last year’s struggles, recognizing a 20% increase in the industry’s absolute capital from Q1 2009 to Q1 2010.

West Bend hopes to adapt the program as a rating engine for all of its lines of insurance.

Policy circles already are abuzz about what changes to seek in a "corrections" bill to fix problems with the legislation.

As landmark legislation makes it way to the President’s desk, insurers look ahead to rule-making phase with trepidation.

Black Hat was set to expose Chinese cyber-attack capabilities until big-money agencies stepped in to silence them.