PHILADELPHIA -- Alternative risk financing consultant Commonwealth Risk Services L.P. recently launched a new World Wide Web site designed to be a one-stop source of information for agents and brokers on the alternative market.

Commonwealth Risk Services, based in Philadelphia, is a unit of Mutual Risk Management Ltd.

The site, located at www.accessmrm.com, includes a growing list of programs put together by managing general agents in conjunction with Commonwealth Risk, giving agents and brokers the ability to access competitive niche markets for their commercial needs.

The site also contains statistical information on the alternative market from industry analysts, industry rent-a-captive ratings, links to other industry sites about the alternative market and information on the products, services and capabilities of Commonwealth Risk and its parent company, MRM.

Information system

DENVER -- Denver-based non-profit workers compensation insurer Colorado Compensation Insurance is offering agents a World Wide Web-based customer information system.

The new extranet, named CCIAgentlink, went live in May, offering 24-hour-a-day service to CCIA's 60 Colorado-based agents.

The site provides agents easy access to policyholder information, simplifying communications between CCIA and its agent partners.

By logging on to the site, for example, agents can check the status of a billing installment, monitor the progress of a claim, run reports to summarize policy and claim data, and exchange electronic mail with CCIA underwriters and adjusters.

Agents with access to the Internet need only use a user identification and password to access the Web site.

In addition to a user ID and password, the CCIA implemented a sophisticated computer firewall, and all data between

customers and CCIA is encrypted.

Rob Norris, CCIA's chief information officer, said CCIA has had "overwhelming positive feedback" from its agents regarding the extranet and that most of the agents enrolled within the first month of installation.

By this fall, the second phase of CCIAgentlink will be rolled out, Mr. Norris said.

The plan is to "move more toward online quoting and some online binding capabilities to larger clients."

For more information about CCCIAgentlink, call CCIA Agent Services at 303-782-4192.

Quicker coverage

SAN FRANCISCO -- Members of Insurance Brokers & Agents of the West now can quote and submit applications for earthquake coverage via the Internet to Pacific Select Insurance Co.

The Web site, www.pacific-select.com, was designed to eliminate the time delays of mailing applications to the insurer and waiting for underwriting approval. IBAW member agencies can pre-screen, quote and issue earthquake policies quicker via the Web site.

By logging on to Pacific Select's Web site using a secure identification and private password, producers can enter risk information to develop a quote, get the risk location approved and save the completed application within the system for up to 30 days. At any point during the 30 days, the risk can be submitted to Pacific Select with a click of a button, and within 24 hours, a policy and direct bill will be mailed to the policyholder.

"Traditional processing of applications through the mail and even faxing will be considered old-fashioned after using this Web site for policy issuance," James R. Watje, Pacific Select's senior vp and director of operations, said in a release.

Also on the site, policyholders can access real-time earthquake activity information in California and obtain earthquake safety and retrofitting information, detailed product descriptions and claims information.

AMS interaction

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- A World Wide Web site developed by AMS Users' Group allows clients of the agency management system provider to talk to each other over an electronic bulletin board by posting and receiving messages and querying information.

The site, at www.amsug.org, is divided into several sections, including information on the group and its activities; how members can become more involved; a members-only section, which contains the user-to-user bulletin board; information on various AMS products and services; and registration for various education offerings.

"For the first time, AMS users can talk to each other from one coast to another, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. This is the type of application that the Internet was designed for," Asa O. Pike IV, former AMS Users' Group president, said in a statement.

Roughly 11,000 independent insurance agencies use AMS Services' agency management systems.