office.

Electronic Mail will transform the way data is transmitted, in the same way the telephone revolutionised spoken communications.

This is the view of the Bermuda Insurance Institute's (BII) information technology committee, who will scrutinise presentations made by four potential Electronic Mail vendors at a seminar on February 22.

The aim is to set up a local, public access Electronic Mail hub, which will provide connection services both locally and internationally.

Telco will be offering E-Mail facilities next month.

The committee is proposing the introduction of a standard, multi-protocol E-Mail network that would communicate locally initially, and subsequently overseas.

"The absence of this enabling technology would be a competitive disadvantage for Bermuda as electronic communication becomes the international norm rather than the exception,'' stated a BII report on the subject.

Potential vendors are Cable & Wireless, Telco, Business Systems Limited, and IBM, represented by Bermuda Computer Services.

BII committee member Mr. Michael Dwyer, vice president at Centre Re, said: "The object of the seminar on February 22 is to allow all vendors to display their wares and then let members decide who are the best''.

In the future, committee members such as Mr. Peter Card, a vice president at brokerage company Bowring (Bermuda), Mr. Dwyer, and Mr. Alastair Williams, systems manager at OIL Insurance, all hope E-Mail will act as a precursor to the adoption of other facilities.

One such concept is Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), which allows users to send documents, such as invoices, in a set format.

Another concept is to establish access to an Internet node, the world's largest network for providing access to public information.

In the first 12 months, the members expected 500 local companies to participate in the E-Mail link-up, and this number should rise to 1,000 in the second year.

Mr. Dwyer described the relatively stress-free process of international conferencing using E-Mail. The problem of communicating across differing time zones evaporates, according to Mr. Williams.

Mr. Card described how Bowring placed business with insurers ACE, EXEL, Starr Excess, and CODA by E-Mail. The company has also established a link with Marsh & McLennan, and some of vendors.

"Because of our broking role, communications with our clients will flow through us,'' said Mr. Card.

He said the use of E-Mail has saved 50 percent of the company's communications costs, and introduced a new way of communicating within the office.

"Phone tag'', the time spent chasing up others on phone, has disappeared, he said.

Another advantage of E-Mail described by members includes E-Mail providing a written receipt, producing confirmation that the person to whom the message was addressed has read it.

MAKING THE CHOICE -- Members of the Bermuda Insurance Institute's technology committee, (from left) Mr. Michael Dwyer of Centre Re, Mr. Alastair Williams of OIL Insurance and Mr. Peter Card of Bowring (Bermuda).