Buying a Used Smart Phone

Do you pride yourself on keeping up with the latest technology? A 'smart phone' offers many bells and whistles over traditional cell phones, including GPS, sending and receiving email, surfing the internet, watching movies or other videos, and listening to music. You may choose a smart phone because it offers business productivity advantages, or because of its entertainment value. You may also want a smart phone because it is the latest and greatest cell phone technology available. These advanced features are great to have, but usually result in a much higher price tag for smart phones over other cell phones.

Most smart phone models, including the Blackberry and the iPhone, among others, are very popular. When first released, you may see long lines of people waiting to get their hands on one. Even for several months or years after their release, they may still be top-of-the-line, meaning that the cell phone carrier will not often offer a price break for them, unlike with other, less-popular models.

If you want a smart phone but don't want to pay the high prices of a new phone straight from the cell phone carrier, or you don't want to be tied to a specific cell phone carrier, consider a used, refurbished, or unlocked smart phone. One of the myths of buying a smart phone is that the limited quality and high demand means that the only phones available are those through the carrier, but this is not true. Even from the day that the phone is released, used, unlocked, or refurbished phones may be available, and buying a used T-Mobile Blackberry or smart phone is much less expensive than the same phone straight from the provider.

Refurbished smart phones are one of the best ways to get a nearly-new phone at a substantial savings. Refurbished cell phones are those that are returned for various reasons. Usually, they are still covered by the original manufacturer's warranty. They have been carefully looked over to ensure quality. Some may never have been used at all. If the package has been opened, the phone can no longer be sold as new. These refurbished smart phones and iPhones offer all of the reassurances of buying a new phone, without the high cost.

Used smart phones usually become available once the phone has been released for awhile, as the original owners upgrade to newer versions or decide that smart phones are not right for them. These range from cell phones used just a few days to those that were heavily used. When buying a used smart phone, look for a warranty. A used or refurbished smart phone is a great way to get the latest technology and all of the features of such phones without paying the high prices typically associated with these phones.

An unlocked smart phone offers many benefits over one that is tied to a specific carrier or network. If you choose an unlocked version of a popular phone, you'll be able to choose the network, rather than being tied to whichever network has worked a deal with the phone's manufacturer to be the exclusive network for that phone. The vast majority of smart phones sold through the cell carrier are locked to that particular network; a locked phone cannot be used with any other carrier, but an unlocked phone offers you a choice between cell phone carriers.