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Mobile Devices and Applications that Matter to Attorneys
Since the introduction of the Blackberry in the late '90s, mobile computing has been making communication easier for attorneys and their clients. While initial technologies were limited in their capabilities, much has changed in the past 15 years and today's mobile technologies have become a no-compromise solution for attorneys on the go.
The decision now is not whether to have mobile devices in your life, but which devices to have and what applications are best to use.
Smartphones
A good smartphone is the foundation of any mobile computing plan. Ever since Apple released the iPhone in 2007, the smartphone has become the central communications device in mobile computing. E-mail on smartphones has been thoroughly developed, and anyone using either an Android phone or iPhone can send and receive e-mails, make phone calls and schedule appointments from anywhere in the world, as long as you have cellular service. If you add Wi-Fi tethering to your smartphone's cellular plan, you will have the added benefit of using your phone as a wireless hotspot for your laptop, tablet or any other computing devices with which you may travel.
If you are struggling with the iPhone vs. Android debate, you should know that both platforms are equally powerful and user-friendly. Whether you choose one over the other is largely a matter of ecosystem preference (Apple's app store vs. Google's app store) and how important device size is to your smartphone use, as Android phones are sold in a wide variety of sizes, whereas iPhones only come in one size. You also may want to consider whether your firm's IT group offers support for a specific device.
There are other smartphone brands on the market worth acknowledging, such as Blackberry and Windows Phone. Both of those platforms, however, have a much lower market share today and therefore have fewer applications supported by vendors upon which you may rely.
Tablets
When Apple released the iPad in 2010, there was much debate over whether it would be a successful product. Many pundits assumed that combining smartphones and laptops together would create a sufficient mobile platform and that tablet computers would simply be a “device in the middle” that few people would actually buy or use. Four years later, it is clear that tablet computing is hugely successful and here to stay. Many people like the casual, “leaned-back” nature of tablet computing, and the software is sophisticated enough to satisfy most basic business needs.
Anyone who works with attorneys has learned that tablet computing has become very popular with attorneys on the go. The large screen size and ability to review PDF files with ease has made tablets ' and iPads in particular ' a very popular mobile computing device. Tablets are generally sufficient for most mobile tasks, including responding to e-mail, basic review of documents and attending online meetings via WebEx, GoToMeeting, and the like. Tablets also support important remote access technologies, such as Citrix and VMware View. Some attorneys are using tablets in lieu of deposition binders, a practice that not only saves paper but also makes it far easier to sort through hundreds of documents with just a few swipes of a finger.
If you can afford a tablet with built-in cellular access, such as 3G or LTE, you will be able to use the device almost anywhere without the need of Wi-Fi access. This can be critical for attorneys on the go, especially if Wi-Fi tethering is not enabled on your smartphone. You may find it advisable to carry a portable USB battery pack to accompany your tablet. This playing card-sized device is lightweight and can add an additional eight to 10 hours of charge to your tablet device when power outlets are not available.
Applications
There are thousands of applications available for smartphones and tablet computers. Sifting through the list can be a daunting task. The list of applications, below, includes the best applications for attorneys on the go. The list is grouped into five broad categories: office, travel, social, and news and entertainment.
Office
Your mobile device's e-mail application will likely be where you spend 80% of your time. The default mail application in iOS is a well-built workhorse that supports multiple accounts from a variety of providers, such as Microsoft Exchange, Gmail and Yahoo Mail. The combined inbox feature in Apple's Mail application will give you quick access to all account messages in a single and convenient interface. One drawback of Mail is that it does not support server-side searching of e-mail, so you will only be able to search the messages that are stored on your phone ' not a deal breaker, but at times an inconvenience.
If your organization uses Google Apps as its server-side e-mail provider, you may find the Gmail application from Google to be your best option. It supports only Gmail accounts, but it includes the ability to search messages not stored on your device, which can be very helpful if you are traveling all day.
Microsoft Office
The core Microsoft Office file formats (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) still dominate the document types most commonly used in the business world. Microsoft has finally made Microsoft Office freely available on all Windows phones, Android and iOS devices. This means that you can view all Microsoft Office documents on the go, with all of the proper formatting. In addition, for a monthly subscription fee, Microsoft will enable the ability to create and edit Office documents. For attorneys who prefer to carry only a smartphone and a tablet when traveling, this is a major improvement to mobile computing.
Adobe Reader
Many mobile devices can open PDF files using pre-installed software, but Adobe Reader is still the best application for viewing PDF files. Adobe Reader can not only open PDF files, but also allows you to make comments, notes and even add signatures directly from the application. As most contracts are now being finalized in PDF format, having Adobe Reader installed just makes good sense.
GoToMeeting/WebEx
Conference calls and Web meetings are a staple of business communications today. The two most popular Web meeting providers (GoToMeeting and WebEx) have solid mobile applications that not only let you view Web meetings, but also let you manage meetings on the go. These applications support video and voice directly over the Internet, so there is no need to use cellular minutes during a call, as long as you have a solid Wi-Fi or data connection.
Travel
Planes/Trains/ Automobiles
All of the major travel providers have applications for mobile devices that manage booking reservations, check flight statuses and manage your account while on the road. Many applications support e-ticketing and will give you alerts about travel delays, etc. If you travel on a wide variety of carriers you may need to install quite a few applications, but the convenience they provide for traveling attorneys is invaluable.
Maps
Wherever you are, you need to know how to get from point A to point B, and nothing is more convenient than mapping software on a mobile device. The king of mobile maps is Google Maps, which is available on both Android and iOS. If you need to find the nearest Starbucks or how to drive from the airport to your client's office, Google Maps is the way to go.
Restaurants
Whether for client meetings or catching up with colleagues, it is invaluable to have access to good information about restaurants and reservations. The Zagat application provides quality restaurant and bar information in all major cities around the world. Just landed in Houston? Find the best Tex-Mex restaurants near your client's office and offer to discuss business over lunch. The mobile application from OpenTable will allow you to make reservations on the go and it will also put reservations directly on your calendar.
Social
Once the realm of college students and teenagers, social networks have become an important business tool for everyone. The three biggest social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook) all have full-featured mobile applications for your mobile device. You can use these applications to keep up with news about your clients and colleagues and make virtual connections with people you meet when on the road.
News and Entertainment
Whether you need to keep up with client news or world events, it is invaluable to have access to late-breaking news. Every major newspaper now has a mobile application to help you stay current. Weather applications help you prepare for upcoming trips.
If you are on the road it is important to steal a few minutes for yourself when you can. Music applications, such as iTunes, Spotify, Pandora and Google Play, can give you some background music while you work on client cases. Video applications, such as Netflix, HBOGo and Hulu, can provide some entertainment to clear your head. Finally, you can read or listen to books using the Kindle or Audible applications.
Conclusion
Mobile devices are full-featured and convenient computing platforms. Smartphones and tablets allow attorneys to be productive when traveling, working from home, or even sitting right at their desks. The right applications can maximize attorney productivity when on the move and provide much needed entertainment after a long day.
Since the introduction of the Blackberry in the late '90s, mobile computing has been making communication easier for attorneys and their clients. While initial technologies were limited in their capabilities, much has changed in the past 15 years and today's mobile technologies have become a no-compromise solution for attorneys on the go.
The decision now is not whether to have mobile devices in your life, but which devices to have and what applications are best to use.
Smartphones
A good smartphone is the foundation of any mobile computing plan. Ever since
If you are struggling with the iPhone vs. Android debate, you should know that both platforms are equally powerful and user-friendly. Whether you choose one over the other is largely a matter of ecosystem preference (
There are other smartphone brands on the market worth acknowledging, such as Blackberry and Windows Phone. Both of those platforms, however, have a much lower market share today and therefore have fewer applications supported by vendors upon which you may rely.
Tablets
When
Anyone who works with attorneys has learned that tablet computing has become very popular with attorneys on the go. The large screen size and ability to review PDF files with ease has made tablets ' and iPads in particular ' a very popular mobile computing device. Tablets are generally sufficient for most mobile tasks, including responding to e-mail, basic review of documents and attending online meetings via WebEx, GoToMeeting, and the like. Tablets also support important remote access technologies, such as Citrix and VMware View. Some attorneys are using tablets in lieu of deposition binders, a practice that not only saves paper but also makes it far easier to sort through hundreds of documents with just a few swipes of a finger.
If you can afford a tablet with built-in cellular access, such as 3G or LTE, you will be able to use the device almost anywhere without the need of Wi-Fi access. This can be critical for attorneys on the go, especially if Wi-Fi tethering is not enabled on your smartphone. You may find it advisable to carry a portable USB battery pack to accompany your tablet. This playing card-sized device is lightweight and can add an additional eight to 10 hours of charge to your tablet device when power outlets are not available.
Applications
There are thousands of applications available for smartphones and tablet computers. Sifting through the list can be a daunting task. The list of applications, below, includes the best applications for attorneys on the go. The list is grouped into five broad categories: office, travel, social, and news and entertainment.
Office
Your mobile device's e-mail application will likely be where you spend 80% of your time. The default mail application in iOS is a well-built workhorse that supports multiple accounts from a variety of providers, such as
If your organization uses
The core
Adobe Reader
Many mobile devices can open PDF files using pre-installed software, but Adobe Reader is still the best application for viewing PDF files. Adobe Reader can not only open PDF files, but also allows you to make comments, notes and even add signatures directly from the application. As most contracts are now being finalized in PDF format, having Adobe Reader installed just makes good sense.
GoToMeeting/WebEx
Conference calls and Web meetings are a staple of business communications today. The two most popular Web meeting providers (GoToMeeting and WebEx) have solid mobile applications that not only let you view Web meetings, but also let you manage meetings on the go. These applications support video and voice directly over the Internet, so there is no need to use cellular minutes during a call, as long as you have a solid Wi-Fi or data connection.
Travel
Planes/Trains/ Automobiles
All of the major travel providers have applications for mobile devices that manage booking reservations, check flight statuses and manage your account while on the road. Many applications support e-ticketing and will give you alerts about travel delays, etc. If you travel on a wide variety of carriers you may need to install quite a few applications, but the convenience they provide for traveling attorneys is invaluable.
Maps
Wherever you are, you need to know how to get from point A to point B, and nothing is more convenient than mapping software on a mobile device. The king of mobile maps is
Restaurants
Whether for client meetings or catching up with colleagues, it is invaluable to have access to good information about restaurants and reservations. The Zagat application provides quality restaurant and bar information in all major cities around the world. Just landed in Houston? Find the best Tex-Mex restaurants near your client's office and offer to discuss business over lunch. The mobile application from OpenTable will allow you to make reservations on the go and it will also put reservations directly on your calendar.
Social
Once the realm of college students and teenagers, social networks have become an important business tool for everyone. The three biggest social networks (
News and Entertainment
Whether you need to keep up with client news or world events, it is invaluable to have access to late-breaking news. Every major newspaper now has a mobile application to help you stay current. Weather applications help you prepare for upcoming trips.
If you are on the road it is important to steal a few minutes for yourself when you can. Music applications, such as iTunes, Spotify, Pandora and
Conclusion
Mobile devices are full-featured and convenient computing platforms. Smartphones and tablets allow attorneys to be productive when traveling, working from home, or even sitting right at their desks. The right applications can maximize attorney productivity when on the move and provide much needed entertainment after a long day.
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