Apple Will Offer Trade-Ins For New iPhone

For the first time Apple stores will soon let iPhone owners trade in their old phones for credit toward a new one, according to multiple reports.

According to Apple-centric blog MacRumors, several sources say Apple store employees are currently being trained on the new program, which could go into effect around Apple’s September 10 event, when new iPhones are expected to be introduced. That would let iPhone owners exchange their older handsets for an iPhone 5S, or whatever the new phone is called.

In June, Bloomberg quoted unnamed sources saying that Apple was working with recycling company Brightstar and that trade-ins could be refurbished by Apple and resold in emerging markets throughout the world.

During Apple’s most recent earnings call, CEO Tim Cook said he was “not opposed” to in-store trade-ins.

“I see channels doing it, and I like the environmental aspect of it, and so that part of it really is encouraging to me,” he said. The “channels” he referred to are third-party vendors of Apple products, such as Best Buy, AT&T and Verizon.

Source: CNN