Esurance selects Microsoft to deliver on-line insurance services to mobile devices

Corporate IT Update, May 20, 2009

CORPORATE IT UPDATE-(C)1995-2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

Esurance Inc, a direct-to-consumer personal auto insurance company and a subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd (NYSE:WTM), has turned to software company Microsoft Corp (Nasdaq:MSFT) to roll out a software-plus-services implementation that delivers its on-line insurance services to mobile devices.

According to the company, Esurance needed to find a way to quickly migrate its web-based applications to a mobile platform and to integrate value-added third-party services. The insurer turned to Microsoft and its software-plus-services strategy, a technology approach that allows companies to run applications locally, in the cloud or through a combination of the two.

Through this implementation model, the company was able to utilise the Microsoft .NET Framework to migrate applications to the Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system. It also integrated two additional services: a text-messaging gateway and AutoWatch, which customers can use to view photos of their car being repaired at an auto body shop. By porting its applications to run in a mobile environment, the insurer is able to anticipate its customer needs, which is expected to help improve customer acquisition and retention.

As part of the rollout, Esurance will make many of its key web applications available on mobile phones, including claims-related functionality, quoting, policy management and billing services, the company said.

No financial details were disclosed.

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