Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire
Wednesday, January 5, 2000
State OKs lower auto insurance
State Insurance Commissioner Wayne Metcalf has approved lower auto insurance rates filed by 25 companies. The rate decrease ranges from 20 percent by Allstate Indemnity Co. to 2.7 percent by Geico Casualty Co. Metcalf said he is pleased with the response to his order last August for rate reductions but said the effort will continue. Some insurers have had their rate filings disapproved or have sought exemptions. Metcalf said he will step in and reduce the rates himself if the insurers don't comply.Some insurers had their rates approved so that there would be some immediate savings for policyholders, but further reductions will be mandated, he said.
The rate reductions will result in savings of about $13.3 million for Hawaii motorists, according to Gov. Ben Cayetano.
Panel to discuss economic future
A panel discussion at 5 p.m. tomorrow in the state capitol auditorium will explore what the "new economy" of the 2000s is likely to bring to Hawaii. Admission is free. Speakers are Joseph Blanco, executive assistant to Gov. Ben Cayetano; state Sen. David Ige and Rep. David Morihara; Phil Bossert, president of Strategic Information Solutions Inc.; David Watumull, executive vice president of Aquasearch Inc.; and Jeff Bloom, executive director, Network Resource Center.
AOL to offer service via Compaq, Casio
DULLES, Va. America Online Inc., the world's largest online service, said it will let its more than 20 million subscribers access their electronic mail using Compaq Computer Corp. and Casio Computer Co. hand-held organizers.Terms weren't disclosed. America Online said in June that it would place its e-mail service on 3Com Corp.'s Palm hand-held computers, the most popular version of electronic organizers. America Online wants to offer its service on pocket-sized computers, wireless telephones and Internet-connected televisions as more people seek access to the Internet while away from their personal computers.