K2 Technologies Provides Wireless Risk Transactions Via The Palm VII Organizer
DALLAS — October 5, 1999 — K2 Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of E.W. Blanch Holdings, Inc., (NYSE: EWB) today introduced the first wireless application for the trading of Insurance risk. This application enables a user to trade risk remotely via the Palm VII(TM) organizer, the first integrated wireless handheld computing product from Palm Computing(R), a 3Com company (Nasdaq: COMS). The Web clipping application has been developed by K2 Technologies for CATEX, the real time internet-based insurance risk trading network. Through the application U.S. based CATEX subscribers can quote, price, bind and trade insurance risk of all types via the Palm VII(TM) device, as well as negotiate terms and conditions in a real time wireless environment. The CATEX application will be made available free to subscribers of CATEX and available for download at www.catex.com or www.palm.net/apps/index.html.
"We are proud of the new capabilities this technology brings to CATEX, the insurance industry and our clients," said William Ashley, Chairman of K2 Technologies and Executive Vice President of E.W. Blanch Co., Inc. "Our vision is to enable insurance professionals to conduct real time risk transactions with push-button ease, even while sitting across the desk from their clients. This innovation is one of several K2 Technologies has developed for the Insurance industry, including real time insurance company performance data and online insurance industry news."
"With around-the-clock availability, CATEX has already made the 'when' of risk trading a non-issue," said Frank Fortunato, Chief Executive Officer of CATEX. "With the Palm VII organizer, we plan to make the issue of 'where' irrelevant too."
"The Palm VII organizer continues to gain momentum with content providers like CATEX developing solutions for our users which optimize the real-time wireless connectivity of the Palm VII device," said Scott Lincke, Director of wireless products for Palm Computing, a 3Com company. "Now E.W. Blanch clients have access to insurance industry news and CATEX customers can conduct wireless insurance risk trading from the palm of their hands. We're pleased to include K2 Technologies among the more than 1,000 web developers creating web clipping applications for the Palm VII community of users."
K2 Technologies designs, develops, and supports interactive software platforms for use in risk assessment and engineering as well as information integration. CATEX is a 7-day a week, 24-hour a day forum to purchase or sell reinsurance coverage by business line, risk class, geographic region or other classifications through secure connections over the Internet.
Palm VII is a trademark of Palm Computing Inc. or 3Com Corporation.
E.W. Blanch Holdings, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated risk management and distribution services, including reinsurance intermediary services, risk management consulting and administration services and primary distribution services. The Company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas with branch offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Jose and Wilmington. Swire Blanch Insurance (Holdings), Ltd., the Company's international joint venture, has offices located in Asuncion, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, LaBuan, London, Mexico City, Miami, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Singapore and Sydney with representative offices located in Beijing, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Shanghai.
SOURCE: E.W. Blanch Holdings, Inc.
CONTACT:
Ian D. Packer of E.W. Blanch Holdings, Inc., 214-756-7000