Mobile applications are varied and cover a wide range of functions and services. What recent developments have been made with mobile apps and what are the current download trends within the industry?

In this episode of The Kennedy-Mighell Report, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell talk about recent developments within the mobile applications industry. Dennis begins with a discussion of the mobile app economy and Apple’s move towards allowing all apps sold through their store the ability to offer auto-renewable subscriptions. Tom expresses his concern with this change in model and states that for this to be successful the app experience must provide ongoing value worth the recurring payment. He pivots the conversation to an analysis of the application boom and statements that this period has ended, and shares that 65% of smartphone users download exactly 0 applications per month. They both end the first segment with an evaluation of The ABA Legal Technology Research Center data, which found that a small percentage of lawyers have even downloaded a legal app to their phone or tablet.

In the second segment of the podcast, Dennis and Tom talk about Microsoft’s recent acquisition of LinkedIn and what this might mean for lawyers who are heavy LinkedIn users. Tom was not initially impressed by the acquisition but eventually realized that Microsoft is transitioning into a company that is selling online services to business customers. They both speculate the many ways LinkedIn and its subsidiary Lynda.com can be integrated into Microsoft’s existing product ecosystem. As always, stay tuned for Parting Shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends.

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