There are three levels of work force mobility in the insurance industry, according to Rod Travers, senior vice president for the Robert E. Nolan Co. The first is mobile functions–work functions performed by employees away from a fixed-office location. The second layer is mobile computing–work functions performed by employees away from a fixed office and using a mobile computing device.

Many insurers have mobile functions, and some also do mobile computing, Travers explains, but few carriers have reached the third level of connected mobile capabilities–work functions performed by employees away from a fixed office and using a mobile computing device with an Internet or network connection.

Analyst Chad Hersh asserts one of the reasons for a lack of connected mobile capabilities is more discussions on mobile and wireless functions are taking place in the home than in corporate offices. "It's little things such as unlimited minutes," says Hersh, a principal with Novarica, a Novantas company. "People are getting comfortable with the fact a cell phone can replace a land-line phone, data plans that actually make sense, and unlimited broadband speeds. People have this for their home use. They can check their personal stuff online any time they want from just about anywhere in the country, yet the carriers don't provide them with tools for wireless. It doesn't make sense."