TechWatch

ELECTRONIC FORMSDOCUCORP

DALLAS-Docucorp International has released its e-forms solution for the financial services industry, which the vendor says will enable companies to establish electronic workflows for form creation, form fill, routing and distribution for both internal and customer-facing forms. Financial services companies using the solution will be able to speed form preparation with data pre-fill and archived content; reduce errors and review time with automatic data validation; store completed forms without the time and costs of scanning; compress processing time with electronic routing and escalation, locally and between branches; and eliminate the costs associated with maintaining a pre-printed forms inventory by utilizing print-on-demand and online capabilities, Docucorp claims.

WWW.DOCUCORP.COM

POLICY ADMINISTRATION CASTEK

TORONTO-Castek Inc. released version 3.1 of Insure3 Policy, which includes additional P&C business functionality and new implementation tools to assist customers replacing legacy policy administration systems. Among the enhancements in release 3.1 are automated renewal processing features, including: unattended renewal processing from renewal creation to issuance; configurable lead-times, by product/ state/company, for renewal initiation, report ordering, notice generation and renewal issuance; automated renewal changes; policy "do-not-renew" capability; and group hold capability by product and state. Release 3.1 also has additional XML interface support, including XML-based interfaces for rating, underwriting and report ordering; and transactional XML produced for each customer and policy transaction to ease outbound integration to downstream systems, such as statistics and financials.

WWW.CASTEK.COM

DESKTOP SECURITY CE-INFOSYS

SINGAPORE-CE-Infosys has released version 4.15 of its CompuSec certificate-based security solution for protection of notebooks and desktops with new functions to encrypt and digitally sign e-mail, adding to the solution's existing features, which include two-factor authentication, pre-boot authentication, full hard disk encryption, single sign-on, screen saver lock, file and folder encryption, floppy and removable media encryption, network (IP) encryption and central administration. Using smart card-based e-Identity tokens to store the digital certificates needed for e-mail security, users are protected from known attacks that can detect PIN numbers. With CompuSec, no PIN numbers are entered when sending or receiving e-mail. Digital certificates from e-Identity tokens are automatically recognized when a user logs on at the computer. The solution uses the S-MIME standard to guarantee a seamless exchange with other users not using CompuSec. Version 4.15 supports Microsoft (Redmond, WA) Outlook and Outlook Express.

WWW.CE-INFOSYS.COM

LIFE DISTRIBUTION DSPA SOFTWare

TORONTO-DSPA Software introduced version 3.3 of its FASAT field administration support and tracking solution, which allows companies to respond rapidly to evolving product and distribution initiatives, the vendor claims. Version 3.3 includes XML for Life interfaces for commission, license and new business pending information, as well as conversion values and enhanced error handling capabilities. Functionality has also been expanded in the areas of mass agent transfer, reverse and reprocess activity, new business pending, debt refinancing and report retrieval and reprinting. Improved application architecture and operating system software and extended use of multi-processor architecture have brought dramatically enhanced performance to version 3.3, DSPA says.

WWW.DSPASOFTWARE.COM

https://www.insurancetech.com

RISK MANAGEMENT MAPINFO

TROY, NY-MapInfo Corp. has released a worldwide version of its Insurance Decision Solution Suite (IDSS). Using IDSS' country-specific data, insurance carriers or reinsurers with global headquarters or subsidiaries can see a visual representation of their policyholders in relation to risk areas, the vendor says. These areas include known natural disaster zones, as well as political and cultural landmarks, which might be at risk of a terrorist attack. This in-depth, global view of risk in each country or region enables insurance companies to improve risk management, underwriting and customer care, MapInfo asserts. IDSS is currently available for the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as through the vendor's strategic business partner KOREM (Quebec City) for Canada.

WWW.MAPINFO.COM

RATING PRIORITY DATA SYSTEMS

OMAHA-PRIORITY Data Systems, Inc., has released PriorityRate.com BOP, a new Internet-based rating system for business owner's packages, which enables carrier-specific rating to agents anywhere they have an Internet connection. The vendor describes the solution as an easy-to-use insurance information tool tailored to rate and underwrite business owner's policies, including carrier-specific modifiers, deviations and rating algorithms. PriorityRate.com BOP highlights policy features and includes ACORD forms, carrier-specific applications, worksheets, proposals and binders, among other features, PRIORITY claims.

WWW.PRIORITY-DATA.COM

LINUX DESKTOP OS XANDROS

NEW YORK-Xandros, Inc., released edition 1.1 of its Xandros Desktop Deluxe Linux desktop operating system. Enhancements include support for Microsoft Office XP and Adobe Photoshop 7.0; Mozilla communications suite 1.3.1 with spell-checking and spam filtering; OpenOffice.org office suite 1.0.3; Evolution groupware client 1.2.4; enhanced hardware detection; and Intel i830/845/855 graphics drivers. Benefits of Xandros Desktop include a five-step graphical installation; integrated partition management; familiar look and feel; best-of-breed applications engineered by Xandros; and compatibility with popular Microsoft file formats, the vendor claims.

WWW.XANDROS.COM

LAPTOP PANASONIC

SECAUCUS, NJ-Panasonic Computer Solutions Co. introduced what it calls the world's lightest rugged notebook, weighing in at under three pounds. The new Toughbook CF-W2 is encased in a magnesium case and powered by 900MHz ultra-low-voltage Intel (Santa Clara, CA) Pentium M CPU with 1MB L2 cache, 256 MB PC2100 DDR RAM (expandable to 512MB) and a 40GB high-speed UDMA hard drive. The W2 employs the latest iteration of thin-glass display technology, a 12.1-inch XGA TFT active-matrix LCD almost 25 percent lighter than same-size conventional panels, the vendor claims. Intel Centrino mobile technology communications enhancements include the Intel PRO/Wireless Network Connection 802.11b WLAN support and advanced encryption and security technology for virtual private networks. A 56K V90 analog modem provides added communications capability.

WWW.PANASONIC.COM

CLAIMS MANAGEMENT RGL

DENVER-RGL Forensic Accountants and Consultants introduced RGL PowerBase for the management of complex multi-incident cases and claims. Individually customized for each file, the RGL PowerBase is an Internet-based data management tool that allows loss adjusters, claims managers, attorneys and other parties to understand large volumes of incidents and data relating to economic damages, view computations, analyze trends, chart and graph data, and print customized reports from anywhere in the world at any time, the vendor claims. The RGL PowerBase is programmed in the secure Web-based platform of PHP and offers custom-designed layers of security to protect data from intentional destruction, unintentional damage, or inappropriate entry. Other features include the ability to customize reports based on evolving needs and demands throughout a lawsuit or claim. Settings may be programmed to view total incidents by state; by status or size; or by demand amounts.

WWW.RGL.COM

PORTFOLIO MGMT. QED INFORMATION SYSTEMS

MARLTON, NJ-Q2, a new portfolio management system from QED Information Systems, Inc., combines portfolio management, investment operations and accounting applications within a single, multi-threaded desktop application, allowing information to be controlled and dynamically organized according to user preference. Q2's interface incorporates intuitive drag-and-drop methods.

WWW.QEDINFO.COM