07.06.2001
MPP Global Launch Mobile Internet Service For Insurance
AirFusion for Insurance - a complete consumer focused mobile internet service which provides all the prerequisites for consumers to obtain quotes and renew their motor, home and travel insurance via their mobile phone or PDA - has been launched by MPP Global Solutions. It even encourages the customer to provide information on insurance policies they hold with competitors to provide exciting cross-selling opportunities.
AirFusion is a range of applications and tools that allows an insurer to notify policyholders when their renewal is due, with details of the renewal premium, via a message sent to the policyholder's WAP mobile phone, PDA or with an SMS message to a mobile phone. The policyholder can simply authorise renewal by return message or request a new quotation, obtain details about other types of policy and access their previous insurance history regarding claims. The new service also enables policyholders to log information at the scene of a potential claim and send this message later to their insurer, from their mobile phone.
The AirFusion for Insurance service is a solution designed to bring customers face-to-face with their insurance company's brand name on a daily basis. It incorporates calendar and diary facilities together with a menu of reminder services for other types of policies offered by other insurers. This allows the customer to manage their entire insurance portfolio in one place, and provides timely reminders, which can be sponsored by the insurance provider. The service is designed to make it easy for policyholders to manage their personal insurance needs from a web site or their mobile phone.
Chris Cheney, Director of MPP Global Solutions explains: "With AirFusion, insurance companies can catch their clients attention on a daily basis, not just once a year. And what is more, personal lines insurance services are ideally suited to renewal via the Mobile Internet channel. It's all about making it simple and easy for the customer, and reducing the influence of policy cost in the customer's mind. Customers are looking for a range of services in one place, that they can access anytime, anywhere and that are personal to them. AirFusion provides these useful services, and includes diary, address book and even impulse shopping for CDs, books, gifts and videos. They combine to generate new revenue streams and, by cross-selling other personal lines products from the policyholder's phone, together with information on quotes and renewals via WAP, PDA or by SMS, they can significantly work to improve customer retention."
The AirFusion for Insurance technology is available in two models; mASP whereby MPP Global Solutions host and run the service, undertaking any required bespoke development and mDeveloper whereby the subscribing insurer hosts and runs the software on their own servers and manage content whilst MPP provide bespoke development and support. AirFusion is designed to leverage existing quotation and renewal processes for insurers with online or mobile operations.
AirFusion uses a component-based architecture, which enables participating insurers to manage their system independently using a web based management console. The technology is designed to be totally flexible to allow upgrades and bespoke development in addition to full integration with 3rd party systems.
Chris Cheney adds: "In order to gain the benefits of direct communication to the customer's mobile device, organisations need to gain and retain their customers' attention by providing them with access to a range of highly useful services, designed for when they are on the move. Such services can be provided for a fraction of the cost of acquisition. Typically, insurance companies don't want to develop these services themselves, which is why MPP has stepped in to deliver the services for them. Our vision is to provide our clients with point of presence in their customers' pocket."
The calendar and contacts functionality within the AirFusion platform is supplied with a synchronisation solution for Microsoft Outlook. In addition, a facility to offer SMS event reminders and WAP bookmarks is provided and each system can be individually tailored to issue timely prompts and reminders for key dates. AirFusion for Insurance also offers WAP email facilities, an SMS messaging engine and the ability to log and track orders.
Chris Cheney adds: "The real attraction of AirFusion for Insurance is that it enables an insurer to launch its own branded mobile internet portal, virtually overnight, with the ability to have it fully customised to its own sphere of activity with customised menus, own product base, links to its own customer service team and relevant news feeds. With this in place the insurer is in a prime position to throw their arms around their customer and we believe insurers should see their renewal rates increase significantly with customers who regularly use the services."
Using secure payment technology, MPP Global Solutions 'm-wallet' ensures that payment details are never transferred through the mobile device. Instead, payment data is held on a secure server using 128 bit secure data encryption. Payment for any transactions can only be authorised when the buyer authenticates their request using a PIN number. The process was designed to be as secure and simple as possible from the customer's perspective.
Development is already underway to develop the AirFusion technology for future applications to include GPRS and 3rd generation technology.
MediaWorks Corporate Communications Ltd can be found at: http://www.mediaworksccl.com
