Smartphones For Insurance Business

[bluemarlin08]

I need help, I guess i am just not up to speed on all the new electronics. I receive emails automatically and can respond, but rarely do because everything is so small. How do you guys use your phones to improve efficiency. I rarely have a need for a mobile browser but am interested in the wifi connector, does that mean I can use the phone's wifi to connect my laptop? Help a brother out and don't be too cruel.

 

[BTFuzz]

I need help, I guess i am just not up to speed on all the new electronics. I receive emails automatically and can respond, but rarely do because everything is so small. How do you guys use your phones to improve efficiency. I rarely have a need for a mobile browser but am interested in the wifi connector, does that mean I can use the phone's wifi to connect my laptop? Help a brother out and don't be too cruel.

Wifi is a wireless connection between a wireless router and a device that supports it (i.e. - most smartphones). If you have good 3G speeds were you use your device, you don't need wifi on a phone as the data speeds of 3G are good for almost everything you will do.

My efficiency is much greater with my device than it was prior. I have my calendar sync'd with my office calendar. Over the years I've "trained" my clients to use email so I can respond anytime, anywere and won't be bogged down with it when I get to my office...I also have quote requests from my website sent directly to my phone. This is great because prospects want a quick response when internet shopping. I have had much more success landing leads with my ability to quickly respond to a request than I did prior.

I am a tech enthusiast...not the best "techie" in the world but if I can find a way to use technology to be more efficient, I will absolutely do it.

 

[Guest]

AT&T is the worst-rated wireless carrier in consumer reports. I had them as well and had nothing but dropped calls. Dropped calls = dropped sale! I am with Verizon now and have not had a single dropped call or any other problem.

 

[Robert Barney]

CL$ is such a simple, basic, and fairly low-tech (no user data stored) application I doubt it would take even an average developer more than a few weeks... a month at best... to adapt to the iPhone OS4. I don't know about the Droid operating system.

Apparently Compulife is considered by Al a low tech product because it doesn't store user data. Is the storing of client data the measure of the level of software technology?

To agree with that ridiculous notion you have to forget the fact that Compulife stores the data of hundreds and hundreds of life insurance products for just over a hundred life insurance companies. Forget all the differences between insurance products, and forget the complex levels of rate tables that some companies use. Forget the fact that Compulife does all that for a fraction of the price of competitors.

To summarize the basis of Al's opinion:

Storing peoples names and birthdates = high tech.

Storing life insurance companies' products and rates = low tech.

Really? That's the logic of a pinhead; why would Al argue such ridiculous logic?

For those who are casual observers please note that Al hates my guts because I am a politically conservative. By sharp contrast Al is a race baiting, liberal wacko (and I am being careful and diplomatic in that description). You can search his ID and see what he says on the non-insurance portions of this site.

Go ahead, read some of Al's postings. The man is motivated by a seething hatred that emminates from the words that he puts in print.

Now it you are politically liberal, you may love Al and you may agree with his political views. That's fine, and I have never asked a customer of Compulife to agree with my views before I agree to sell them my product and service.

But Al's disdain for my political views is the reason that he routinely takes cheap shots at my product and services, finding any way he can to denigrate them. Those who know about this don't need to be told; they know. Those who don't need to understand that is the basis for his hate filled attacks on my product and service.

But forget what Al says, and forget what I say. When it comes to my product I put my money where my mouth is. First time users of Compulife are given the opportunity to obtain 4 months of service, absolutely FREE and without obligation to continue. This includes our interet quoting technology. The normal price of our software and interet quoting service for your web site is $298 per year. 4 free months is the equivalent of just under $100. Now if my product is so bad, and no one was benefiting from it, why would I do this? And how the heck have I stayed in business for almost 30 years? Anyway, find out for yourself:

Compulife - 4 Months Free

As to storing the "client data" in our software, the Compulife program already has an open architecture which permits an agent to transfer client data from a client database program to the Compulife program. Given that most agents already have client database software, it would be the "Department of Redundancy Department" to store it all again. Does that make the slightest bit of sense?

Anyone with any skill in the database business would find it a relatively simple operation to create an interface between a client database and Compulife. To date, the company that has done the best job is www.gbsinc.com. You can read about their interface with Compulife here:

GBS Partners

It is worth noting that at one time GBS offered their own term quote system and decided to drop that system and integrate our software.

We are open to discussing the database interface with anyone in the client database business. If you are using a client database that does not interface with Compulife, give your provider a call and ask why they have not taken advantage of adding a Compulife interface to their product.

 

[Newby]

AT&T is the worst-rated wireless carrier in consumer reports. I had them as well and had nothing but dropped calls. Dropped calls = dropped sale! I am with Verizon now and have not had a single dropped call or any other problem.

AT&T works pretty good in our area. The service is 110% much better when you have a problem than Verizon. I have only come close to going postal a few times in my life and they were always in Verizon stores.

Consumer Reports is fun to read but they are often VERY wrong on products. Don't put 100% or even 60% credibility in their opinions. Factual stuff is OK. But I think they learned a long time ago that they don't sell many magazines by admitting "we don't really have any meaningful way to compare these products because they are used by so many different people in so many different ways under so many different conditions." So they just lie and print usless drivel.

 

[BTFuzz]

AT&T works pretty good in our area. The service is 110% much better when you have a problem than Verizon. I have only come close to going postal a few times in my life and they were always in Verizon stores.

Consumer Reports is fun to read but they are often VERY wrong on products. Don't put 100% or even 60% credibility in their opinions. Factual stuff is OK. But I think they learned a long time ago that they don't sell many magazines by admitting "we don't really have any meaningful way to compare these products because they are used by so many different people in so many different ways under so many different conditions." So they just lie and print usless drivel.

While I agree AT&T's customer service is typically easier to deal with and even bargain with than Verizon, I would never switch to them as their service in my area sucks. I've never in my life seen more dropped calls than guys in my area with AT&T.

It's almost painful at times to field a phone call from a friend or colleague who I know has AT&T when they call.

 

[GreenSky]

If I am going to leave blackberry, my choices are android or iphone. I am almost certain that I'll try the HCT Thunderbold when it's available shortly. It's 4G and the higher speed is avialable where I live.

Here's an interesting 18 minute comparison:

HTC Thunderbolt vs. Verizon iPhone 4 | Wirefly Learn

Rick

 

[YouGotMyMoney]

If I am going to leave blackberry, my choices are android or iphone. I am almost certain that I'll try the HCT Thunderbold when it's available shortly. It's 4G and the higher speed is avialable where I live.

Here's an interesting 18 minute comparison:

HTC Thunderbolt vs. Verizon iPhone 4 | Wirefly Learn

Rick

that's HTC not HCT Rick

 

[GreenSky]

that's HTC not HCT Rick

Thanks. Maybe I better choose the iFone.

Rick

 

[Guest]

Apparently Compulife is considered by Al a low tech product because it doesn't store user data. Is the storing of client data the measure of the level of software technology?

It's one of them. Because CL$ does not store client data it does not have to program for the security that would be needed... which is not all that easy and can involve a lot of "high tech" concepts.

To agree with that ridiculous notion you have to forget the fact that Compulife stores the data of hundreds and hundreds of life insurance products for just over a hundred life insurance companies.

Storing data is easy. Storing data securely is a totally different matter.

Forget all the differences between insurance products, and forget the complex levels of rate tables that some companies use.

My goodness, CS$ is not the space shuttle. A 15 year old could write the code to CS$. It may look difficult, but at the end of the day the system is just a bunch of SQL queries against a database and the information sent down the line and formatted. Big %$#@ deal. Piece of cake.

I'm not saying that there is no value received, but let's not break our arm patting ourselves on the back about the technology involved here because there is darn little to it.

Forget the fact that Compulife does all that for a fraction of the price of competitors.

Almost every GA has a quote engine (often iPipe) that is free. Of course if you need or want something with more features and a high price... by all means get it. I'm fine with picking up the phone and calling my GA for quotes... but YMMV. (Of course, as Rick often notes, I only have one client every six months!!! )

Storing peoples names and birthdates = high tech.

It's a lot harder because of the security measures needed but such a feature would offer much more value to the application perhaps justifying the high price.

Storing life insurance companies' products and rates = low tech.

Easy Peasy. Nothing to it. No big deal.

Really? That's the logic of a pinhead; why would Al argue such ridiculous logic?

Because Al spent 25 years as a software developer and still owns a successful SaaS system called Jaya123 and because Al knows what he is talking about when it come to software programming and database.

For those who are casual observers please note that Al hates my guts because I am a politically conservative.

Sigh. I knew it was coming. You did too, I'll bet.

By sharp contrast Al is a race baiting, liberal wacko (and I am being careful and diplomatic in that description).

My, my... temper, temper.

The man is motivated by a seething hatred that emminates [sic] from the words that he puts in print.

There was some seething hatred in my post above about CL$?

But Al's disdain for my political views is the reason that he routinely takes cheap shots at my product and services, finding any way he can to denigrate them.

Didn't I say that CL$ is a good system above? What is he so upset at? What am I missing here? Will someone explain it please?

Those who know about this don't need to be told; they know. Those who don't need to understand that is the basis for his hate filled attacks on my product and service.

Did the rest of you "get" this from my post above about CL$? Are we reading the same post?

But forget what Al says, and forget what I say. When it comes to my product I put my money where my mouth is.

Hmmm. From this post I think another part of the anatomy comes to mind.

First time users of Compulife are given...

Long commercial for CL$ deleted...

As to storing the "client data" in our software, the Compulife program already has an open architecture which permits an agent to transfer client data from a client database program to the Compulife program. Given that most agents already have client database software, it would be the "Department of Redundancy Department" to store it all again. Does that make the slightest bit of sense?

So maybe the CL$ will put up a page showing agents how to save the data to their database... maybe Sugar or Radius or ACT or Salesforce or Genie?

Anyone with any skill in the database business would find it a relatively simple operation to create an interface between a client database and Compulife.

If so, than see above. It would be a nice "feature" for customers to have. I mean if it is so easy and all....

To date, the company that has done the best job is www.gbsinc.com. You can read about their interface with Compulife here:

GBS Partners

The GBS base system is $795 plus $200 a year for support. All I saw on the link is a copy of the CL$ logo. Nothing to read that I could find.

Once again... for those who like CL$ by all means go out and buy it. It's fine. Sheesh!

Al