The FastEstimate service is available on any smartphone, including Windows Mobile, iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm Pre and Android. In addition, the company launched an Android application that lets on-the-go consumers view policy, mutual funds and financial information.

“Our strategy is to use the mobile access-point to sell State Farm’s value of providing insurance coverage at an affordable price,” said Kelly Thul, director of enterprise Internet solutions at State Farm, Bloomington, IL.

“Our target demographic is really any mobile user, but the expectation is that young adults will be a significant portion of these users,” he said.

State Farm provides car and home insurance, as well as offers consumers banking, annuities and mutual fund products.

On-the-go service
Consumers can answer a few questions such as address, age and vehicle information and they will be presented with three choices in coverage, and be given the option to forward that estimate to an agent for purchase.

Additionally, the company has a mobile Web site that lets consumers locate a State Farm select service repair facility, search for State Farm agents by ZIP code, get vehicle information for 2009 and 2010 models by most manufacturers and access tips for what to do if you are in an accident.

Registered users can submit a claim and look up insurance policy summary information.

“Our initial release on our mobile Web site allows us to be device independent, which in turn allows us to deliver to a larger audience,” Mr. Thul said. “Our mobile site is a complement to our other access points – agents and Statefarm.com.”

Mobile insurance
State Farm has an iPhone application and has created an identical one for the Android mobile platform.

Users can check their account information and policy holders can view policity, mutual funds and financial information on the go.

Consumers can submit a claim and check their State Farm Bank account.

Here is a screen grab of the application:

Here is another screen grab of the application:

In addition, users can search for locksmiths, towing service providers, rental cars, taxis, gas stations or hotels by location or ZIP code.

“We intend to continue to grow in auto insurance sales and this is a contributor to that,” Mr. Thul said. “We  continue to understand this rapidly growing and changing environment and we will focus on delivering items that customers want and need. 

“With mobile Web, iPhone, Android, iPad, and whatever comes next – we expect to be busy,” he said.