| u pride yourself on keeping up with the latest | | | | Refurbished smart phones are one of the best |
| technology? A ‘smart phone’ | | | | ways to get a nearly-new phone at a substantial |
| offers many bells and whistles over traditional cell | | | | savings. Refurbished cell phones are those that |
| phones, including GPS, sending and receiving email, | | | | are returned for various reasons. Usually, they are |
| surfing the internet, watching movies or other | | | | still covered by the original manufacturer’s |
| videos, and listening to music. You may choose a | | | | warranty. They have been carefully looked over |
| smart phone because it offers business | | | | to ensure quality. Some may never have been |
| productivity advantages, or because of its | | | | used at all. If the package has been opened, the |
| entertainment value. You may also want a smart | | | | phone can no longer be sold as new. These |
| phone because it is the latest and greatest cell | | | | refurbished smart phones and iPhones offer all of |
| phone technology available. These advanced | | | | the reassurances of buying a new phone, without |
| features are great to have, but usually result in a | | | | the high cost. |
| much higher price tag for smart phones over | | | | Used smart phones usually become available once |
| other cell phones. | | | | the phone has been released for awhile, as the |
| Most smart phone models, including the Blackberry | | | | original owners upgrade to newer versions or |
| and the iPhone, among others, are very popular. | | | | decide that smart phones are not right for them. |
| When first released, you may see long lines of | | | | These range from cell phones used just a few |
| people waiting to get their hands on one. Even for | | | | days to those that were heavily used. When |
| several months or years after their release, they | | | | buying a used smart phone, look for a warranty. |
| may still be top-of-the-line, meaning that the cell | | | | A used or refurbished smart phone is a great |
| phone carrier will not often offer a price break for | | | | way to get the latest technology and all of the |
| them, unlike with other, less-popular models. | | | | features of such phones without paying the high |
| If you want a smart phone but don’t | | | | prices typically associated with these phones. |
| want to pay the high prices of a new phone | | | | An unlocked smart phone offers many benefits |
| straight from the cell phone carrier, or you | | | | over one that is tied to a specific carrier or |
| don’t want to be tied to a specific cell | | | | network. If you choose an unlocked version of a |
| phone carrier, consider a used, refurbished, or | | | | popular phone, you’ll be able to choose |
| unlocked smart phone. One of the myths of | | | | the network, rather than being tied to whichever |
| buying a smart phone is that the limited quality | | | | network has worked a deal with the |
| and high demand means that the only phones | | | | phone’s manufacturer to be the exclusive |
| available are those through the carrier, but this is | | | | network for that phone. The vast majority of |
| not true. Even from the day that the phone is | | | | smart phones sold through the cell carrier are |
| released, used, unlocked, or refurbished phones | | | | locked to that particular network; a locked phone |
| may be available, and buying a used T-Mobile | | | | cannot be used with any other carrier, but an |
| Blackberry or smart phone is much less | | | | unlocked phone offers you a choice between cell |
| expensive than the same phone straight from the | | | | phone carriers. |
| provider. | | | | |