Apple is reportedly cooking up a new trade-in program, which will allow customers to hand over non-Apple smartphones toward the purchase of a new iPhone.
The company already has a trade-in program in place, but it only allows customers to trade in old iPhones so they can save some money for the purchase of a new one. Apple has not accepted any other smartphones for trade-in so far, but that may well change soon if a new report turns out to be accurate.
According to Apple-centric publication 9to5Mac, Apple is working on a new trade-in program that will accept even Android or BlackBerry devices, aiming to determine more consumers to switch to an iPhone.
"According to sources, Apple will soon introduce a new recycling and trade-in program that will accept non-Apple smartphones, notably including Android and BlackBerry devices, in exchange for gift cards to be used toward the purchase of new iPhones," 9to5Mac reports. "In continuing to court Android switchers, Apple will use a similar system to the one it uses to repurchase iPhones, whereby Apple Retail Store employees determine trade-in values for devices by considering their cosmetic and functional condition."
If this turns out to be accurate, it would mark the very first time that Apple extends its trade-in and recycling program to include devices made by other OEMs. The publication further notes that this new trade-in program is set to kick off in the coming weeks. Ahead of the big launch, Apple will reportedly begin extensive training programs later this week to instruct its retail store employees on the new program. The report also mentions that Apple employees will be able to transfer address book contacts from a non-Apple smartphone to an iPhone, but customers will have to handle the transfer of other data from one handset to the other.
The whole trade-in process should be quite straightforward. Customers bring a non-Apple smartphone, Apple retail employees assess the state of the device, determine its monetary worth and give the customer a gift card, which can be used toward the purchase of a new iPhone. Such programs always require the device to be in working order, and the maximum value is awarded for handsets in mint condition. Until Apple makes an official announcement, however, take this news with a grain of salt.
