Conshohocken, PA--eMoney Advisor, a leading provider of holistic wealth planning solutions, today announced the availability of AdvisorPlatform Version 3.5. The new version offers significant upgrades to Version 3.0, which was released in January 2003, including streamlined data entry through the Fact Finder, simulated sales of an asset, "what if" scenarios versus base facts, and additions to the Client Financial Home Page. In addition, the new version includes an updated user interface for greater ease of use.

IVANS Inc., the Greenwich, Conn.-based provider of network and real-time solutions for the insurance industry, has released a study detailing the current state of insurance agent adoption of technology in the United States. The study, which received responses from more than 435 independent agents, revealed that an overwhelming majority of insurance agents (84.3%) prefer to work with insurance carriers that they consider "aggressive" in their use of new technology."The results of this survey are important because they show that recent advances such as real-time agency/company interface and use of broadband technologies have clearly dispelled the concerns from a few years ago about disintermediation of agents when embracing new technologies," says Maggie O'Hara, divisional vice president of offering management for IVANS. "In fact, if anything, these technologies have helped convert agents into huge technology proponents that now hunger for more positive change."

Hyland Software Inc., the developer of OnBase(R) enterprise content management software, has formed a partnership with HealthTek Solutions. HealthTek focuses on providing information technology consulting services to IDNs, community and teaching hospitals, health care payers, physician groups and other healthcare providers. Frank Veale, considered to be a leading expert on document imaging technologies, leads HealthTek's document management practice and will manage the Hyland/HealthTek partnership activities.

ATLANTA--Ebix Inc., a leading international supplier of software and e-commerce solutions to the insurance industry, announced that it has completed its acquisition of LifeLink Corp. Inc., adding hundreds of brokers and approximately 35 life insurance companies as customers.

Vertis Inc., a Baltimore-based provider of targeted advertising, media and marketing services, today announced the results of its Customer Focus 2004: Insurance study, which reveals that some consumer audiences are willing to purchase dental, health and life insurance through resources other than an agent."With both life and dental insurance purchases, Generation X adults (28 - 39) were more willing than the average adult to consider utilizing the Internet, telephone or direct mail to initiate their policies," says Therese Mulvey, vice president, marketing research, at Vertis. "The results of the study show that Generation X adults are 10% more likely than the average adult to purchase life insurance and seven percent more likely to purchase dental insurance through channels other than the insurance agent."

MasterCard Advisors(TM), a subsidiary of MasterCard International, today announced the acquisition of TowerGroup from Reuters. MasterCard Advisors is a global professional services organization, offering consulting, research, outsourcing and information products and services.

Salt Lake City, Utah--Castle Data Services has signed an agreement with Allied Insurance Company, a member of Nationwide, to provide them with replacement cost data through the use of Castle's online replacement cost estimator.

Exstream Software, Inc. today announced that Richard Troksa has joined the company as vice president of business development. Mr. Troksa brings to Exstream over 19 years of experience in development, strategic planning and marketing segmentation focusing on software and service solutions for the printing market. Troksa will help Exstream expand into new channels and vertical markets by developing and managing business partnerships, strategic alliances and independent software vendor (ISV) relationships. Exstream has developed an impressive number of strategic partnerships over the past several years that include IBM, Xerox, Hewlett Packard and Böwe Bell & Howell, and plan continued growth in this area.

SAN RAMON, Calif.--ADP Claims Services Group, a leading provider of integrated business solutions for the property and casualty, collision repair and automotive recycling industries, announced today Frontier Adjusters, Inc., a national provider of independent adjustment and appraisal services, has chosen PenPro as its auto appraisal software provider.

ATLANTA, GA-- Knowlagent, the exclusive provider of software solutions that build best performers fast in customer service centers, announced today that its largest healthcare customer has rapidly and successfully deployed the Knowlagent Agent Performance Solution to thirteen call centers across the United States and offshore markets.

CONYERS, GA and SAN MATEO, CA- ImageRight, a provider of document management and workflow solutions for insurers, and Guidewire Software, Inc., a provider of claims solutions to property and casualty insurers, today announced the immediate availability of an integrated claims processing and document management solution for the insurance industry. In addition, Guidewire has joined the ImageRight Business Alliance as a Gold Partner.

Nearly 2,700 American technology workers in 12 states will receive advanced information technology job training in the coming months in programs administered by CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.CompTIA has received two grants totaling $6 million from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration. The H-1B Technical Skills Training Grants are intended to train U.S. workers in specialty occupations such as computer science, information technology, engineering and advanced manufacturing technology.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - A report issued by the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) on the use of credit-based insurance scoring found no basis for any conclusion that credit history is skewed toward ethnic minorities or low-income individuals.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced the acquisition of R. P. O'Brien & Co., Inc. of White Plains, New York. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Although the hype surrounding offshore insurance business process outsourcing (BPO) is rising, insurers are reluctant to "go there" with their core processes. Meanwhile, the vendors have not yet proven their domain expertise. This is according to recent research conducted by Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner Inc.

The Customer Respect Group, an international research and consulting firm that focuses on how corporations treat their customers online, today released the results of its Winter 2004 Online Customer Respect Study of insurance firms that rank among the countries largest 1000 companies.

Cambridge, MD--G. Philip Feldman, CEO of technology insurance provider ISG International, announced today that the company has launched breakthrough technology on its CCBsure Web site that provides Businessowner's Property and Casualty (P&C) Liability insurance coverage to independent computer consultants, in real time, over the Internet. No insurance provider has ever offered immediate, automated P&C business insurance coverage before.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa--Fiserv, Inc. has introduced eFreedom Investment Management powered by BasisPoint, a fully integrated portfolio management and investment accounting solution that supports each step of the trading process--from order processing through trade execution, accounting, international settlement support and regulatory reporting. As trading practices become increasingly complex and global, more and more organizations need the comprehensive multi-currency, multi-basis, investment accounting capabilities found in eFreedom Investment Management to track business activity and report to regulators.

Uniondale, NY--OnlineBenefits, Inc., provider of Internet-based HR solutions, announced today that it has entered into a long-term strategic partnership with Digital Insurance to distribute Benergy as an employee communication solution for its clients.

Learn.net and InsuranceStudy.com have signed an agreement that will allow InsuranceStudy.com's online continuing education (CE) courses to be immediately available to Learn.net's online learning customers. InsuranceStudy.com, headquartered in Northbrook , IL , provides more than 60 insurance industry CE courses and is certified to provide CE training in all 50 states. Learn.net customers who must meet state-mandated CE insurance requirements can now link directly to the InsuranceStudy.com web site to learn about and take courses.