Technology is constantly changing, and new cell phones are released on a regular basis. You may be excited to upgrade to the newest version of a phone, and if you have a smartphone that is still in good working condition, you can sell it and make a profit. However, there are several things that you should do before selling your smartphone to a stranger. Use the following tips to sell your old smartphone successfully:
Back Up Everything on Your Phone
IF you're like most people, your smartphone is probably full of phone numbers, text messages, photos, and other data. The last thing you want is to lose all of that information. Before you sell your smartphone, make sure that you do a complete back up to save all information on your phone. The process for doing this will depend on which phone model you have.
Turn of GPS Services
Many smartphones have apps or programs installed that help an owner track down their phone if it is lost or stolen. While this is a very convenient feature, it is important to turn off GPS location services like this before you sell your smartphone. In some cases, if the GPS location services are not turned off by the original owner, the new owner may have a difficult time activating the phone will their cell phone carrier.
Erase Everything on Your Phone
It is absolutely essential to remove all of your personal data from a phone before you sell it. Don't just delete apps or personal photos-- take the time to restore the phone to factory settings. When you do this, everything on your phone will be permanently erased, and in essence, the phone will be formatted exactly as it was when it was manufactured. Erasing everything on your phone will protect your privacy and will also make it easier for the new owner to set up.
Remove SIM Card
While restoring your smartphone to factory settings erases everything stored on the phone itself, some personal information about you, your phone, and your phone number can remain on the SIM card inside the phone. It is in your best interest to remove your SIM card before selling a smartphone. The person who you sell the phone to can get a new SIM card from their cell phone service provider when he or she activates the phone with their own phone number.
If you're ready to say "sell my iPhone," contact your local smartphone distributor.