· Upgraded WinRater to version 6.0 to support enhanced requirements for real-time rating.

· Upgraded Web products from .Net 1.1 to .Net 3.5 platform.

· Added “manufactured” rates to WinRater: Preferred Mutual, Harleysville, Private Client Group

· WinRater feature improvements, including better integration with RMV’s Virtual Private Network, printing of RMV1 forms approved for all printers, automated database maintenance/backup utility.

· SinglePoint feature improvements including batch deleting, eliminating undeliverable emails, etc.

· Upgraded and added more servers in our server farm to support increase in real-time transactions (we now have 9).

· Encryption of personal data to protect privacy.

· Various efficiency improvements including streamlining of database structure, SoftSync deployment of updates, tracking and resolving bugs, etc.

As you are probably aware, the Massachusetts sales/use tax went from 5% to 6.25% beginning August 1, 2009. We have updated our RMV-1 Form to reflect this change and charge the appropriate tax.

Please make sure you visit www.bostonsoftware.com/update and click on the ENTER button to begin downloading this upgrade. Once you run the update, you will see the new 6.25% being used on your WinRater RMV-1 form.

Ever since the RMV began accepting electronic stamps and signatures, we’ve been hard at work finding a solution that meets the approval of the RMV and works smoothly for all carriers and agents.

The good news is that we have a solution in place. But we are putting the finishing touches on it, working with the RMV on the formatting, and pilot testing with carriers.

Once in place, carriers will be able to create “eStamps” (with the agency name and carrier ID number) for each of their agents. Agents, in turn, will import the eStamps into WinRater. While in a RMV-1 Form, agents will be able to select from their list of carrier eStamps and it will get “pasted” in the appropriate place on the Form. CSRs will be able to type their names on the “signature” line. Of course, the Form can be printed or emailed as a PDF file.

This is just one of the many ways we’re working to make the rating workflow easier for you. We’re shooting for a release date around the first week of September. Stay tuned!

Plymouth Rock agents will now be able to perform real-time rating and submitting from 7:00 a.m. to Midnight, seven days a week. The expanded hours coincide with the RMV’s increased hours of online availability. Previously the RMV availability ended at 8:00 p.m. Enjoy!

By now you should have received a SoftSync update from us and installed the latest WinRater upgrade, version 6.0.

The easiest way to tell if you’ve successfully installed this on your PC/network is to check that your WinRater Start Menu is new and colorful, like the picture to the right.

If your start menu does not look like this or if you have any questions, please contact us immediately at 781-449-8585 or support@bostonsoftware.com.

This upgrade has a bunch of improvements including a new start up menu, integrated SinglePoint features, and better screen layouts.

But the 2 most significant improvements that you should be aware of are:

1. Real Time Rating -Version 6.0 enables your WinRater/SinglePoint to perform Real Time Rating.
   Click here for details.
   Click here for Step-by-Step Instructions.
2. Integrated RMV Lookup & Prefill -If you license the RMV’s Virtual Private Network, WinRater can now instantly connect to the ALARS system and retrieve driver, vehicle, and/or policy history info. The best part is now it does this at the start of the quote and prefills over 60 rating fields required to get a quote… virtually eliminating all the data-entry grunt work!
   Click here for details.
   Click here for Step-by-Step Instructions.

Buckle up, we’re heading down a whole new road!

Plymouth Rock is the first carrier to plug into WinRater/SinglePoint’s Real Time Rating system.

This means the quote that is displayed in the WinRater premium list will actually be calculated on Plymouth Rock’s web rating engine.

SinglePoint is like a lovable golden retriever doing the leg work while you focus on other more important things (like your insured!). SinglePoint feeds the quote data to the Plymouth Rock rating engine for calculation and then retrieves it for use in your WinRater.

With the exception of having to click a “quote” button and waiting a few seconds, you won’t notice a big change in your workflow. But you will enjoy more accurate Plymouth Rock rates, in which all third party reports such as Registry and eligibility reports have been run.

Next week, we’ll begin sending Plymouth Rock agents a SoftSync email to activate this functionality. Be sure to contact us with questions or concerns. And look for more info about this exciting change from us and Plymouth Rock in the coming days!

We’ve begun sending out the update to WinRater 6.0. Once you have successfully upgraded, check out one of the exciting new 6.0 features. Agents that license the Registry’s Virtual Private Network can now instantly retrieve RMV data and have it pre-filled in the appropriate fields in WinRater at the start of the quote.

* Requires the RMV’s Virtual Private Network.
  Please call the RMV Help Line at (617) 351-9596 for an application.

Benefits include: