Telecom Expense Management Blog

Enterprise wireless departments or that "go to" wireless person within a company are constantly upgrading mobile phones to keep end users up to date with the latest and greatest devices. Those old devices may still have some value and several companies would love to take them off your hands.

If the device is still working many enterprises internally recycle mobile phones by reassigning them to new employees, folks further down the org chart or keep them for emergency back ups or spare parts. All of which help them get the maximum benefit out of the investment in the device. At some point however, you may gather more phones than you need and they start collecting dust. You can still get some value out of these devices however, by selling them or by donating them to a charity.

One thing to keep in mind when getting rid of phones is to make sure the data has been removed and the device has been reset. Here's a handy application to make sure your phones are cleaned and rest.

There are a lot of companies vying to get your old phone but our favorite is Cell Phones for Soldiers, which was started in April of 2004 by 13-year-old Brittany Bergquist and her 12-year-old brother Robbie of Norwell, Massachusetts. After hearing a news report about a local soldier who ran up a massive phone bill calling home from Iraq, they decided they wanted to do something to help. Brittany and Robbie donated their piggy bank money, collected snack money from their friends at school, and with $21.00, they went to the bank to open an account. The South Shore Savings Bank of Hanover, Massachusetts donated $500.00 to help them get started. Since then their organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 400,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.

If you're looking to generate some cash for your phones the market leader in the repurchasing and recycling space is Recellular, they have corporate repurchasing plans and will purchase hundreds or thousands of phones.

Enterprises can also get their employees involved in recycling their old phones by setting up a recycling program. The company Collective Good has a Corporate Mobile Recycling program which includes a brochure with steps on how to conduct a successful cell phone collection; sample text for you to announce the program via e-mail to all employees; signage for a collection box in your office, lobby or reception area and free shipping for all donated phones sent in through this program.

By the way all phones donated, either individual or corporate are eligible as a tax-deduction.

So take your old phones and make your enterprise some cash or donate them to a worthy cause.