The Modern Workplace

Last week, Apple announced that it would begin offering volume purchasing for iOS apps. A week later, the App Store Volume Purchase Program is now open for enrollment. The Volume Purchase Program (VPP) allows businesses to make bulk purchases of apps, although Apple currently does not offer discounts for buying in bulk (insert joke about how expensive Apple products are here).  However, the VPP allows businesses to purchase, customize, and distribute iOS apps throughout the enterprise.

So what does this development mean for employers? On the one hand, the VPP gives employers more control over the devices owned and distributed by the business. Although it always been possible for employers to control the installation of applications on iOS devices owned by the enterprise, before the VPP, this was a very cumbersome, device-by-device process. Going forward, centralized management of iOS apps appears to be a more feasible option for employers.

However, as with so many technological advances, control is often illusory. Employers should know that the control and distribution of iOS applications is only a small part of the control and maintenance of iOS devices. Harassment, pornography, and unlawful activity do not require special appsand employers that are considering getting in the business of owning, distributing, and maintaining iOS devices should do so with their eyes wide open.

Technology in the Workplace

• Will Employers Soon Use GPS to Catch FMLA Abuse (FMLA Insights)
• How to Create a Social Recruiting Strategy (MonsterThinking)
• Social Media History Becomes a New Job Hurdle (NY Times)
• Complaint re: Wages on Facebook Not Basis for FLSA Retaliation Claim (Delaware Employment Law Blog)
• Can you hear me now? Dont forget mobile devices in your social media policy (Ohio Employer's Law Blog)
• The Use of Social Media in Hiring Decisions: Tempting Fruit from a Poisonous Tree (Pennsylvania Labor and Employment Law Blog)
• Badge, gun, social media policy: Philly cops now have all three (The Employer Handbook Blog)
• Ruth on the Future of Telecommuting (Workplace Prof Blog)

Technology and the Law More Generally

• "Internet Communications" Alone Insufficient To Invoke Florida Long-Arm Statute Against Lindsay Lohan In Trade Secrets Misappropriation Suit (Trading Secrets)
• US Supreme Court Refuses to Stay Videotaped Execution, Now Set for Tonight (ABA Journal Blog)
• Online Exhortation to Shoot Obama Was Protected Speech, 9th Circuit Rules (ABA Journal Blog)
• 16 Arrested as F.B.I. Hits the Hacking Group Anonymous (NY Times)
• Transparent Government, via Webcams in India (NY Times)

Technology in the News

• Apple Launches B2B Store For Volume App Store Purchases (TUAW)
• The Ultimate Nerd Apparel: iCufflinks (Gadgetwise)
• U.S. to Close 800 Computer Data Centers (NY Times)
• Study: Average corporate network hacked 3+ times a year (MSP Business Journal)
• Privacy Isnt Dead. Just Ask Google+ (Bits)
• Seeing Promise and Peril in Digital Health Records (NY Times)