The secret afterlives of your smartphone
I remember exactly where I was when Steve Jobs took to the stage and introduced Apple’s first smartphone with a touch interface in 2007, changing the technology and wireless industry landscape forever. When I first saw what that device could do I was completely awe-struck. I had been working in the wireless industry for a while at the point, but even my wildest predictions could not have guessed what was coming.
We all know the feeling of unboxing a brand new phone, peeling off that plastic film and watching the screen light up for the first time, but what happens to that phone when you purchase that newer model?
At the time my company worked on redistributing cellphones, which meant getting them from parties who didn’t have any use for them and supplying clients who were interested in buying them. Obviously, we had to process them to assure quality in between, which meant I had a pretty good idea of how a mobile phone spent its first, second or even third life. Apple’s success with the iPhone caught the attention of other major players and the result was: a lot of smartphones and a lot of competition.
This upward trend also had a domino effect in several other markets that were directly related to the wireless industry like apps, mobile payments, wearable tech, accessories, and breathed brand new life into the mobile phone distribution industry. Where companies were redistributing old flip phones, everyone was now scrambling to get their hands on acquiring an inactive inventory of smartphones and selling it to companies interested in buying them in bulk.
Think of it like selling that car that you don’t need to someone who was looking for the same model so they could start driving for Lyft or Uber. Now instead of just one car, make it several hundred thousand. And while we’re on the topic of your favorite ride-hailing services, that old phone you sold or traded in might be the same one your driver is using to track his rides. Instead of getting the latest phone model, a lot of companies prefer getting an older version that gets the job done and is cost effective for their business. My team and I have been around for 6 years now at Phantom Communications and year on year we’re seeing a constant rise in our supply/demand channels.
By 2017, a third of the world’s population is anticipated to own a smartphone which translates to a staggering 2.3 Billion smartphone users in the world. However, it isn’t a walk in the park, governing authorities were established to verify quality management systems, recycling management, and health/safety requirements. We had to build ourselves into a reputable brand by applying for those audits and being awarded the certifications for adhering to compliance requirements.
The redistribution of smartphones helps makes sure all phones are repurposed after their 1st owner, giving interested parties the latest technology at a bargain price. 10 years later after the launch of Apple’s game-changing device, that phone in your pocket has become faster than the computer that sent the Apollo 11 to the moon. However, unlike the Apollo rocket , your old smartphone and tablets are able to be used again by someone who really needs them.
