What to Do With Your Old Smartphone Device

Don't waste your old phone's potential.

What happens when your contract is up (or the latest mobile device is released) and you are getting ready to replace your old smartphone?  Should you bury it in the closet with the rest of your outdated technology?  While it might be okay to justify replacing outdated MP3 players, GPS units, and other devices that are incorporated into smartphones - you may reconsider forgetting about your old phone.  Below I have compiled a list of little things that you can do to maximize your once-expensive smartphone's potential and help to give it a longer life.



Use Wi-Fi on the phone
So what if your phone isn't carrying the baggage of a two-year service contract with a major phone carrier?  You can still use Wi-Fi capabilities to browse the web, download applications, enjoy media content, and even potentially use your phone for calling.  For example, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services such as Skype, Fring, and Truphone.  These services are great and offer features that allow you to communicate for free between other users of the applications (available on all platforms).  If you would like to use them to make additional calls, rates are as little as $0.02 per minute. Overall, the lack of a service contract doesn't necessarily handicap your phone's potential.

Music and games
You may have an iPod and updated games on your new smartphone, but why not keep the old phone for some entertainment purposes?  Instead of worrying about beating up your iPod, you can take your old phone with you wherever you go. As long as you have a Wi-Fi connection, you can still access markets for game applications and new music. This also makes your device perfect for letting a child play with.  Rather than having them waste your battery on the new phone, just let them tinker with the old one when you're out and about.

Emergency phone
Even if your phone is deactivated, the FCC requires that they should still be capable of making 911 calls.  As long as you have a portable power source, stick the phone in your glove box for times of emergency.  You also never know when your current device will break!

Your very own e-reader
Why buy a new Kindle, Nook, or tablet PC when you can download applications for reading on any smartphone?  Even though the screen is smaller, it may be worth it to use your old phone instead of spending the money on another gadget with the same features.

Portable storage
Most smartphones can be connected to a computer with a USB cord and used as a portable storage unit.  Since they have a couple gigabytes of available space (usually), simply load your extra files on the phone and take them with you.

Utilize the default tools on the phone
Whether it's the calculator, calendar, alarm clock, notepad, or any of the other various programs that come installed on smartphones, they are great for using when you're at home or on the go.  For example, plug it in and set it as a backup alarm in your bedroom.  You can also make appointments, set reminders, calculate payments, create checklists, and much more.  There are even some applications that older phones can run that offer full functions of a scientific calculator (such as Andy-83 and others that emulate the Texas Instruments calculators).

Still not good enough for you?
There are websites online such as BuyMyTronics.com, NextWorth.com, and Gazelle.com that will help you place a value on your used smartphone. If it is in good condition (and you can still provide some of the initial equipment that the phone came with), you can usually get offers that are quite reasonable for your phone.  Some sites will even send a shipping box with a prepaid label for you to ship your phone to them.  Just make sure to do your research before shipping your phone to some random company.

If you decide that you just want to get rid of your phone, make sure to take your privacy seriously.  Each device comes with instructions in the manual for clearing all of the data off of it.  If you can't figure it out (or lack a manual that came with the phone), you can usually figure out how with a simple search online.  Go through the phone and delete contacts, pictures, text messages, and any other content from when you were using the device.  If your phone comes with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, remove it.  Phones can be a goldmine of data if they end up in the wrong hands - so take it seriously.

Don't just throw your phone away in the trash.  Many of the materials can be recycled from the phones, and the batteries should never be sent to a landfill.  Most service providers will accept phones that are being recycled.  If not, you can always send it to the manufacturer.  I would also recommend looking for schools, charities, or family members that you could donate the device to.  Many of them would be happy to use it for any of the features listed above.

Source: PC World

Recycle your smartphones!