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Getting Rid of Old Faithful
If you’re like most people, the siren song of a new model of your favorite smartphone is probably a lure too big to resist. If you can’t wait to get your hands on the latest technology, and even if your current phone is getting a little long in the tooth, it might be more valuable than you think. Selling or trading it could be a great way to help fund the purchase of the newer model. Here’s what you need to know to do that:
Sell or Trade
There are web-based services like Gazelle (http://gazelle.com ) and uSell (http://usell.com ) that make the process of turning your old phone into cash about as painless as it can get. Enter in your phone information and quality, get a quote. Mail it off and get your money. If you’d rather conduct the transaction in person, then there are plenty of vendors who will trade with you, including big box stores like WalMart, Apple, Best Buy, and even Game Stop.
If you’d prefer to do it yourself, you can always sell it online via Ebay. In addition to that, all four of the major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile) are also willing to trade, so there’s no shortage of options. Wiping Your Phone
Before you sell or trade though, you’ll need to wipe your phone to make sure that its next owner doesn’t have access to your personal information. The process is different, depending on whether you’ve got an Android or an Apple device, and we’ll cover both just below.
If You Have An Android Device
Wiping an Android is actually a two-step process. The first thing you’ll want to do is to enable encryption. This process could actually take a while, so be prepared for that. Start by going into settings, then to security. Tap the “Encrypt” option, and let it do its thing. Once it’s finished, click settings again, then “personal,” and select “backup and reset.” You’re done, your phone is clean.
If You Have An Apple
The “trick” to be aware of with Apple devices is that there’s a bug in older versions of Facetime. If you don’t disable it, then the new owner of your phone might wind up seeing your messages. To disable, go to “settings,” scroll down to FaceTime, and simply toggle it off. Once you do that, go back to settings, tap “General,” then “Reset,” and finally “Erase all Content and Settings.” Wait for the process to complete and you’re all set. In either case (Android or Apple), don’t forget to take your SIM card out, so you can drop it into your new device!
If you’re unsure about any of this, then before you part with your old phone, it’s in your best interest to consult with an expert before proceeding. They’ll be able to help you ensure that when you get rid of your old phone, no trace of your personal data remains. They’ll also help make sure you get top dollar for your old tech.