Late in 1998, Jack Huber, the Technical Services Manager for InStar Corporation, set up a Terminal Server in order to allow the dozen sales representatives access to the main company software. These reps were scattered around the country and had to call in with new client information or to get current sales status reports. This new technology allowed real-time access and eliminated duplicate data entry, and including Citrix Metaframe added security and speed to make the model feasible.

Well before the term "ASP" become coined, Jack presented to InStar ownership the idea of providing this service to clients. Hosting would solve the huge problem for insurance agencies of multiple locations and would allow much of the IT procedures to be outsourced to InStar. This idea was received with excitement, but there were obstacles. Certainly the two most difficult were the lack of dependable Internet bandwidth and the lack of funding available to properly design and implement the plan. The alternative was to have a high-tech company become the host with direct ties to InStar.

Jack moved to Buffalo, NY, to join and directly oversee the hosting firm's integration into the new ASP industry, but was very disappointed with the lack of management in this company. Nadyne Taylor, an InStar representative working for the ASP, left to help an agency with acquisitions, and shortly after, Jack joined her and the retired owner of that agency to form their own hosting company.

The downturn in the economy and with the failures of high-tech companies and their stock, WorldPOINT rode a roller-coaster of bank promises and retractions for over a year, all the while maintaining its user count and service level. Finally, in October, 2001, a business loan was given and the scalable data center that had been envisioned became a reality.

Today, WorldPOINT not only has expanded to include users in the United Kingdom, but has partnered with several insurance and travel software companies specializing in office automation.  In June, WorldPOINT received certification as "Safe" from DataCertified, a company that scrutinizes data centers and ASP's.  With our large contingent of extemely satisfied customers and now DataCertified "Safe", WorldPONT is quickly becoming a significant player in both the insurance and travel industries.