Latham’s Smart iPhone App

A month ago I criticized Morrison & Foerster’s phone app because rather focus on what its clients and prospective clients would want, the law firm focused on delivering a version of its website.  I said then that the critical question for MoFo to answer was,

“what pre-existing MoFo electronic content would most benefit MoFos’ clients and prospects?”

It appears that Latham & Watkin’s heard me as they have launched an iPhone app that takes a pre-existing publication “The Book of Jargon” and adapted for the iPhone.  This publication has already proven popular with its audience and now can be accessed at the tap of a fingerprint.  Good going Latham!

MoFo iPhone app – strategically flawed

Here is an article praising the launch of MoFo’s iphone application “MoFo2Go.”  It argues that the app is successful because there have been 1,500 downloads, client praise and positive press.  The article then goes on to pose six questions a law firm should answer before moving forward with their own ap.

How many MoFo employees are there?

My guess is that 1,500 downloads constitutes less than all the employees of Morrison and Foerster.  And remember this is a free ap and with its reference for looking up for MoFo lawyers, this would be particularly handy for MoFo employees.  However, I’m not convinced that clients are eagerly downloading MoFo2Go.

Wrong Question

The second question posed by the article is, “What types of features can you offer app users?” I think this is the wrong question.  The right question is, “what pre-existing MoFo electronic content would most benefit MoFos’ clients and prospects?” MoFo2Go is focused on MoFo NOT on what the clients and prospects need.

For Example…

MoFo publishes lots of client alerts and rather than focuses on “People” and a game,  focus the app just around the client alerts and re-purposes the PDF content to make it easy for clients and prospect to scan this rich and valuable resource.  Is it fun?  No but that’s not what people look for from their law firm.

iPhone sued for false advertising

“Apple and AT&T Mobility’s 3G iPhone does not deliver on advertised promises, a class action claims in St. Louis County Court. The class claims they get error messages when they try to send a picture to another cell phone through the advertised Multimedia Messaging Service. ”

Article:

Lawsuit: mob transmits death threats via iphone

Oddball lawsuit du jour:

“McKenna claims that an iPod shuffle he bought in 2005 via eBay and an iPod mini that he claims he bought in 2006 new from an Apple Store (note that the mini was discontinued eight months before he bought it) both contain illegal receivers that Apple built in the devices, ostensibly at the request of the Mob. He claims in his lengthy, 124-page complaint that, in 2008, he was able to record Mafia members sending death threats to his iPod mini stating, “I’m about to kill him,” in “unison” with a song he was listening to.

The complaint is so bizarre, so elaborate, I’m not sure whether to laugh at its absurdity or feel sorry for McKenna, who is representing himself in the lawsuit. However, here in Orbiting HQ we think this may top a lawsuit last year claiming Steve Jobs and Apple conspired with South Carolina correction officer to sexually harass an inmate with a prolific history of filing “creative” lawsuits.”

Article:

Claims made that iPhones are overheating

“Apple recently announced that iPhone and iPod users could experience a small electrical shock when using ear buds. An annoyance, perhaps, but not as big as serious iPhone overheating. Over the last two years, there have been reported incidents of iPhones overheating.  Apparently the problem is still around, as I just heard from a major tech executive that his wife’s iPhone has been overheating, causing all the apps to close and the device to lock up.”

Article:

Top iPhone app? Koi pond

“Of the paid apps, Cupertino-based Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) said Koi Pond tops the list. The applications turns the iPhone into a virtual fish pond with swimming koi, moving lily pads and rippling water.”

Article courtesy San Jose Busines Journal