More than 500 EcoATM machines that dispense cash for your old phone to be deployed by year-end
The process is not as magical as it sounds, of course - you have to hook it up first to one of the various diagnostic cables provided, then the machine grabs it in its steel paws, and takes a picture to examine the external condition it is in, but in the end you should get a bit of cash for your clunker. If it is a very old phone, you'll likely get almost nothing, but the machine will take it, and then it will go into an electronics recycling plant.
Beats dealing with the hassles of eBay, Craigslist and the like, but the prices that the automated system returns, are based on scouring hundreds of databases from similar recycling services. The founder of EcoATM, Bill Bowles, demonstrated his invention with a Verizon iPhone 4, and the machine quoted him $221 for the condition it was in.
Having those in malls around the country might beat driving around to find the nearest electronics recycling depot, or a carrier store willing to take your ancient gizmo. Recycling or reselling services usually pay less than what you'd get for dealing with eBay or Craigslist, but caring about the environment - priceless.
via USAToday
Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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