Originally published on October 19, 2009 in our free SmallLaw newsletter.
The iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm Pre, and other smartphones have conquered the legal world. Originally embraced by salespeople, adoption among lawyers has skyrocketed in recent years. In fact, the iPhone has emerged as the new attorney status symbol — even though it's not really targeted at the enterprise market. (Some iPhone-toting lawyers I know don't even know how to use their iPhone for email.) Given this smartphone ubiquity, I knew it was time to get rid of mine. Yes, you read that right.
I deactivated my well-used BlackBerry 8703e, and "upgraded" my Verizon data plan to a MiFi 2200, officially called the "MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot." Developed by Novatel, the MiFi 2200 is about the size of a credit card though thicker. It provides simultaneous Internet access to five computers — without having to be plugged into any of them. Your computer (invariably a notebook or a netbook) connects to the MiFi 2200 using WiFi (802.11g or 802.11n) over Verizon's cellular network (Sprint also offers the MiFi).
The technical specifications and reviews of the MiFi 2200 are well chronicled elsewhere. From a small firm perspective, how does the MiFi facilitate our work, as compared to other alternatives?
A Small Firm Lawyer's Perspective on the MiFi
I am no longer instantly accessible to everyone who sends me an email. This is a good thing. In the past, I checked my email on the BlackBerry all the time, even when I was (Shock! Horrors!) sitting in a courtroom. But I could almost never provide a complete response, because I invariably needed information that the BlackBerry could not access. The BlackBerry would only add items to my "to do" list, not remove them.
Now, I tote my notebook computer almost everywhere during the business day, and when I sit down wherever I might be, fire up the notebook, I have everything available, courtesy of our shared Exchange account (Outlook) and a LogMeIn Hamachi VPN or LogMeIn Pro remote access (for documents and everything else). Moreover, everything coming in or going out of my office winds up in a PDF file, so I don't even need to carry physical files.
The connection speed is slower than your wired network, and even slower than an office wireless network or other WiFi hotspots (many courthouses in New Jersey have public WiFi), but the 3G (third generation) cellular access is faster than you may think. Take care of any heavy downloading when connected to a "real" network.
A USB modem, PC Card or netbook or notebook with an embedded cellular modem offers the same functionality, but the MiFi 2200 is more convenient since you can share it among multiple computers just like a wireless router, and because you can start it and slip it in your pocket or briefcase rather than inserting it in your notebook computer every time. It's also helpful if you own a WiFi-equipped PDA such as Apple's iPod touch, or even if you own a WiFi-equipped smartphone and find yourself in a location where Verizon (or Sprint) offers better service.
The Cost and Other Factors
The monthly cost for the 5 GB data plan (a lot of data as long as you are not watching videos) is approximately $60 right now. The MiFi 2200 with a contract costs approximately $100. While the plan costs a little bit more than the data-only plan for my BlackBerry, I no longer pay the $10 monthly fee for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) charged by my shared Exchange provider, so the price is a wash. Sprint's pricing is similar.
I don't have clients or partners who require a 30-second response time. With the MiFi 2200, my laptop, and our firm's VPN, remote terminal access, and shared Exchange system, I can check in evenings and weekends, at home or any other place. During business hours, I am never more than three hours away from being able to check my email even if I am in court all day.
If I can make a cellular phone call, I can use the MiFi 2200. For, me, and I suspect for many small firm lawyers, this setup provides an alternative that no smartphone — not even the iPhone — can touch.
Written by Edward Zohn of Zohn & Zohn, LLP.
How to Receive SmallLaw
Small firm, big dreams. Published first via email newsletter and later here on our blog, SmallLaw provides you with a mix of practical advice that you can use today, and insight about what it will take for small law firms like yours to thrive in the future. The SmallLaw newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
