Insurer builds on recent Web 2.0 capabilities to provide online access to information and services for consumers and agents. By Anthony O'Donnell

New York Life (New York) has extended several of its online services to cell phones and handheld devices, according to a press release issued by the insurer. Those services include access to educational content for consumers and agents.

The insurer has taken the step to provide mobile access in response to consumer requests and expectations, according to Ken Hittel, vice president, corporate Internet department, New York Life. "With over 6,000 mobile visitors per month, it is clear that optimizing our online offerings for all these devices is meeting the needs of our customers and potential customers," he says. "We are pleased to be one of the first insurers to offer this convenience, and combined with the Web 2.0 features New York Life launched last year, we believe we are creating the most value for our Web visitors."


Services available to mobile devices include: searching for information on a range of financial products and their features, including research findings on insurance amounts and achieving financial goals, such as securing retirement income and leaving an inheritance; direct connection with the insurer's "Click-to-Call" feature, enabling consumers to speak with a service representative on a range of insurance, annuity and long-term care products, including those available via AARP; searching for field or agent office locations by name, address, city, state or ZIP code, including the ability to call, using the Click-to-Call capability; Information on how to become a New York Life agent and apply online with a short e-mail form.

New York Life claims that its Web-based offerings are now available to more than 700 models of phones and handheld mobile devices, constituting about 98% of those devices in use.

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