Westwood, Mass.-based MIB Inc., a national association representing nearly 600 life insurance carriers, is taking an expanded leadership role to support the Life Forms initiative launched by Pearl River, N.Y.-based ACORD. MIB's participation is an extension of a strategic alliance with ACORD that started last year to promote industry adoption of ACORD's XML for Life Insurance standards. Support to establish the standards has also been provided by the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies and by four carriers: GE Financial, Manulife Financial, Mutual of Omaha and Prudential Financial Services Inc.Mumbai, India-based Rediff.com India Ltd., an Internet communications and media company, has formed a strategic alliances with ICICI Prudential Life Insurance and Tata AIG Insurance-two major insurance corporations in India. Available at the finance link of www.rediff.com, users can choose from a host of life and non-life insurance products and services from the two new partners.
San Rafael, Calif.-based Fair Isaac and Co., a provider of customer analytics and decision technology, is teaming with San Mateo, Calif.-based Siebel Systems Inc., an e-business applications software provider. Fair, Isaac will support Siebel 7, the latest release of Siebel eBusiness applications, and will join the Siebel Alliance Program as a Premier Software Partner. Fair, Isaac will provide a seamless integration for ClickPremium-a real-time underwriting solution-to Siebel eInsurance, and for LiquidCredit-an instant credit solution-to Siebel eFinance.
Fort Worth, Texas-based InsureZone, an online insurance agency that markets small-business insurance through agents, brokers, banks and Web portals, has added four carrier partners to its AgentSecure subsidiary. The carriers-AIG, Kemper, Safeco and The St. Paul Co.- have agreed to offer commercial products for small businesses through AgentSecure, an extranet designed for small and rural agents. CNA, The Hartford and Zurich North America Small Business all currently conduct business on the AgentSecure carrier platform.
Boston-based John Hancock Financial Services Inc., a provider of long-term care insurance, has expanded distribution of its LTC product by making it available on the Web site of Darien, Ill.-based Quotesmith.com. The LTCompare area of the Web site provides a free online price comparison and purchasing service. Hancock's program with Quotesmith.com expands on a relationship that began in 1998. Hancock was one of the earliest carriers to sell term life insurance through Quotesmith.com, and is currently the online aggregator's top term-insurance volume generator.
