Custom software “plug-in” products, such as the Mercury plug-in being tested by Market Intelligence, allow Mercury Network Members in the lender community to leverage a la mode’s superior coverage, technology, and reputation with appraisers to enhance Market Intelligence’s trading partner relationships.

During the pilot, Market Intelligence will test a custom plug-in for Mercury that enables their appraiser trading partners to use their favorite form filling software, regardless of its brand. Contents of the compressed data container delivered to Market Intelligence will include the PDF appraisal report and the MISMO-compliant XML tracking data. Workflow and review rules designed by Market Intelligence will pre-process the report.

“This initiative is in keeping with Market Intelligence’s on-going delivery of quality service to its clients, said Dave Harrison, Strategic Planning Manager with Market Intelligence. “With the Mercury Network, appraisers get to use industry-standard PDF files and we connect with a la mode’s WinTOTAL software users, which account for over 50% of the industry.” The Mercury Network is an open architecture platform, based on Extensible Markup Language (XML) standards established by the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO). a la mode customers - real estate appraisers - subscribe to the Mercury Network to safely connect electronically to more clients while using the report form filling software of their choice.

Scott Kinnaird, VP of Business Development for a la mode, commented, “Mercury Network members, such as Market Intelligence, enjoy a range of options that includes using our robust back-office tools. Because our tools are developed as reliable Microsoft .NET services, the scalability and portability of our products provide companies such as Market Intelligence a level of control and confidence unavailable to them in the past.”

Focused on connecting every segment of the industry, the Mercury Network consists of true desktop software components and lender-centric server software tied together by a la mode's net.X™ backbone. Members of the Mercury Network enjoy simple and elegant solutions to common collateral workflow problems which have not been sufficiently addressed by internet portals or legacy report-conversion products.

About Market Intelligence
Market Intelligence, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fidelity National Financial, is the largest property evaluation firm in the country. Serving most of the top home equity and first mortgage loan originators in the country, Market Intelligence offers a suite of evaluation products that range from computer-generated estimates of value to a full appraisal. Headquartered in Boston, MA, it also has branch offices in regions throughout the country.

About Fidelity National Financial
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Fidelity National Financial, Inc. is the nation's leading title insurance and diversified real estate-related services business. The company's title insurance underwriters -- Fidelity National Title, Chicago Title, Ticor Title, Security Union Title and Alamo Title -- together issue approximately 30 percent of all title insurance policies nationally. The company provides title insurance in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. In addition, Fidelity, through its principal subsidiaries, performs other real estate-related services such as escrow, appraisal services, collection and trust activities, real estate information and technology services, trustee's sale guarantees, credit reporting, attorney services, flood certifications, real estate tax services, reconveyances, recording, foreclosure publishing and posting services and exchange intermediary services in connection with real estate transactions.

About a la mode
a la mode, inc. is the single largest real estate appraisal technology provider in the world. The company's flagship product, WinTOTAL appraisal software, is used by over 50% of North American appraisers, nearly three times the share of its closest competitor. a la mode’s Mercury Network delivered over 5.2 million electronic appraisals to lenders and appraisal management companies in the past 12 months, making it the undisputed leader in paperless real estate transactions. a la mode is headquartered in Oklahoma City, and more information about the company can be found on the Web at http://www.alamode.com.