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The trend towards direct insurance has certainly taken off in significant fashion, and insurance companies like Dial Direct Insurance have been taking good advantage with their innovative approach to the insurance market and the insurance consumer in the street. The idea behind direct insurance is that costs can be cut and administrative red tape eliminated, or at least reduced, by cutting out the network of brokers when buying insurance. No longer is it necessary for insurance clients to deal with third party brokers who act as go-betweens between the insurance service providers and administrators and the consumers. Direct insurance removes this middle man element and allows the two entities to communicate directly.

Dial Direct is a leader in the South African direct insurance market. It has a 10-year long track record and is underwritten by its holding company in the UK, allowing it to ensure customers of a solid financial foundation for their insurance policies, which is a great source of peace of mind. Dial Direct South Africa uses advanced call centre technology and highly trained operators to allow customers to simply call in and arrange all their insurance needs, quickly and with a minimum of fuss. There aren't even any forms to be filled in. Alternatively, prospective clients can go to the Dial Direct web site and apply for insurance online, with the same quick turnaround times and professional, personalized service. Everything is streamlined to make acquiring insurance as simple and trouble-free as possible.

Because there are no brokers, there are no brokers' commissions and fees to be paid, and these savings are passed on to customers in the form of lower premiums, lower excesses and cash back bonuses for not having to claim on insurance cover over a given period of time. Claims are also paid within a shorter time and claims processing is speeded up and the administrative overhead is lower - a further source of efficiency and cost savings.

This type of direct insurance is offered across the board - in terms of short term insurance at least. There is household insurance, which includes buildings; motor vehicle insurance, including leisure vehicles like caravans and water craft; business insurance; and insurance for professionals and practitioners. These include standard out the box product packages as well as tailored insurance solutions.

With the ease and convenience, and above all the cost savings, that direct insurance offers, it's no wonder that it is proving so hugely popular.

There are two types of insurance brokers, direct, and traditional. We will take a look at the two to aid you in making a comparison that will help you determine which will be best for you.

Direct Insurers

Direct Insurers are car insurance companies that have realized they can save money by cutting out the 'middle man.' By dealing directly with the client, instead of paying a broker or intermediary, they are able to cut back on costs and therefore offer lower premiums.

Because these companies do not have brokers accessing the public for them, and bringing in new clients, they use marketing tools to entice the customer. By advertising their services via billboards, television, radio, print media and the like, the publics' interest is piqued. The Direct Insurer will then have a call centre where a potential client can phone in and query their services.

The caller will give all their details to the company directly, and there will normally be less paperwork involved than with an insurance broker. The common myth is that no commissions are paid at all within these Direct Insurer companies, but this is not true. Commission is paid to the call centre agent upon your signup, but that is a once off thing. With the Traditional Insurance Brokers the commission will get paid to your broker on an ongoing basis based on your monthly premiums.

Traditional Broker based Insurers

These car insurance brokerages have existed for a very long time, as opposed to the fairly new idea of Direct Insurers. Traditional Insurance Brokers have developed a very clear separation between customer services and dealing with risks. The theory of this is that if you have separate specialized entities, then each broker can develop closer relationships to their clients and offer them better service. The risks will then be understood better.

So which is better?

It is hard to debate which type of insurer will save you more money. At face value it may seem like Direct Insurers will be cheaper, especially when considering that they have cut out the middle man and therefore broker fees. It is wise to take into consideration that these companies also have much huger advertising budgets than Traditional Insurance Brokers. Sometimes, the money that they have saved on brokers' commissions has been used for advertising, in order for them to entice their customers. This will make your premiums more expensive. This is normally the exception to the rule though, and only by doing research and comparisons will you find the Direct Insurer that is best for you.

Traditional Insurers can sometimes offer you a better deal than Direct Insurers. This is especially so if you include your household contents in your insurance request. You will receive a discount when you decide to insure more than just your vehicle with one of these companies. Unfortunately, if you do not need to insure your household contents when acquiring car insurance, you may find that a Traditional Insurer is a more expensive option.

Generally speaking, in some cases it is cheaper for the client to use a Traditional Insurer as opposed to a Direct Insurer, and vice versa. It is mostly based on your specific needs and insurance requirements.

June 4th web-based panel will give attendees access to esignature experts from Interlink, Celent and Locke Lord Bissell and Liddell LLP

CAMARILLO, Calif. -- Interlink Electronics, Inc. (OTC:LINK), the trusted provider for legally-binding esignature solutions, will host an educational and interactive web panel discussion entitled: "Myths and Realities: eSignatures in the Insurance Industry" on June 4, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. PDT. The panelists from Interlink, Celent, and Locke Lord Bissell and Liddell LLP will share their esignature expertise and be available to answer questions. Registration is now open: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/545921156.

"The goal of the panel discussion is to bring attendees up to date on the current industry trends, educate them on the available technology options, and to reaffirm the legality of electronic signatures," explains Rod Vesling, Senior Vice President and Officer for eTransactions at Interlink Electronics.

Based on a December 2007 Celent report entitled "An E-Signature Update for US Insurers," the panelists will discuss the following realities of electronic signatures:

* The Federal E-Sign Act established the legal framework for esignatures

* eSignatures provide valuable and tangible benefits

* eSignature technology does not require a complete IT overhaul

* Leaders in the insurance industry are currently embracing the technology

Panelists:

About Interlink Electronics, Inc.

Interlink Electronics, Inc. (OTC:LINK) provides the financial services industry as well as the healthcare and government sectors with the electronic signature platform needed to eliminate paper from critical business processes. Interlink's complete solution, which includes esignature software, hardware, and services, allows organizations to implement end-to-end electronic processes no matter where the signing takes place: in-branch, in-the-field, online, or mobile. Interlink Electronics is also known for its family of MicroNav products, powered by the company's patented Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) technology and integrated in handheld consumer electronics devices. Headquartered in Camarillo, California, Interlink Electronics, Inc. also has offices in Japan, Hong Kong, and China. www.interlinkelectronics.com/esign

All registrations and trademarks are properties of their respective owners. IntegriSign is a registered trademark of Interlink Electronics, inc. This release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The following are among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: business conditions and growth in the electronics industry and general economies, both domestic and international; lower than expected customer orders; delays in receipt of orders or cancellation of orders; competitive factors, including increased competition, new product offerings by competitors and price pressures; the availability of third party parts and supplies at reasonable prices; changes in product mix; significant quarterly performance fluctuations due to the receipt of a significant portion of customer orders and product shipments in the last month of each quarter; problems or delays in reporting our results of operations to the public; and product shipment interruptions due to manufacturing problems. The forward-looking statements contained in this document regarding industry and review trends, industry product and technology acceptance, product mix and future business activities should be considered in light of these factors.

In a recent study by AutoInsuranceQuotes.com, it was revealed that 94 percent of surveyed drivers prefer shopping for auto insurance via email as opposed to online; in person with a local agent; or over the phone.

WILMINGTON, N.C., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent study performed by AutoInsuranceQuotes.com found that out of 264 respondents who visited the site while shopping for auto insurance, 94 percent claimed to prefer shopping via email as opposed to other shopping methods including online; in person with a local agent; or over the phone.

As the internet continues to offer more convenient shopping solutions for consumers around the globe, it is no surprise that so few drivers prefer to speak in-person with a live local agent.

Similarly, The J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Insurance New Buyer Study found that last year, 21 percent of new customer insurance sales were processed entirely on the web.

On the other hand, however, only two percent of AutoInsuranceQuotes.com survey respondents preferred shopping strictly online.

"Shopping online without agent interaction may be too impersonal for some auto insurance shoppers as they are sometimes apprehensive about binding themselves into a policy without consultation," said Mike Pesackis, Licensed Agent for AutoInsuranceQuotes.com.

Purchasing via email allows customers to utilize the internet for convenience yet also requires that they will be working with a live agent to purchase their insurance policy. Email shoppers seem to appreciate the convenience of web-based shopping, but also seem to find great value in working with a licensed agent.

"Customers who work with a licensed agent before purchasing their auto insurance policy have a better chance of finding the right coverage and qualifying for all available discounts," said Jana Bell, Director of Business Operations at HomeInsurance.com. "State and lender requirements vary per customer and a licensed consultant is there to ensure you get the most appropriate coverage for your needs."

The team at HomeInsurance.com is committed to providing the latest trends and resources in home and auto insurance shopping and quotes since 1992. Apply for home insurance online and speak to live, licensed agents in your state for the best rates and the most comprehensive coverage.