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I rearranged my office and came across a bunch of old phones and tablets.
Three of the phones have no way of doing a factory reset. Of these 3 phones, only one had a sim card which I took out and then discarded the phone. I don't know what to do with the other 2 because I can't erase the personal info on them -- short of taking a hammer to them!
The other two "newer" phones I was able to do a factory reset on as well as one of the tablets. I haven't been able to find the charge cord on the 2nd tablet, so can't recharge it to do a factory reset on it.
The question now is -- what to do with all of these devices? I'm sure Verizon doesn't want them back because the devices are so old (the last 2 phone upgrades I've done, I was able to send back the old phone for some $$).
Any suggestions?
(ON EDIT: I also have a WiFi Ranger I haven't used in a few years. If anyone would like it and you're in or traveling through the Spokane area, you can have it.)
Edited May 30 by LindaH
How old? Flip phones or smart phones?
Our local women shelter happily took them.
How old? Flip phones or smart phones?
I'm not really sure how old the 2 "newer" phones...older than 4 years, anyway. They're both smartphones. One is a Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD and the other is Samsung Galaxy S Relay.
The tablet for which I have the charge cord is an Ellipsis 8. The other one is a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3. Of course, I'm not going to be able to do anything with this latter one unless I can find the charge cord.
Our local women shelter happily took them.
That's a great idea for the phones! I'll check to see if there's one around here.
Thought you would like that one!!!!! Call the police, they would know and probably have a contact number.
When I get devices from customers, I wipe them and donate them either to a domestic violence shelter, or a facility that helps the homeless get jobs. Both groups of people need a cheap way to get phone calls. Both of those organizations give people something like 300 minutes a month so they can get job interviews, talk to police about their situation, and stay in touch with family.
Old smartphones can be used as dashcams, obdii displays, geocaching beaters, etc.
When I get devices from customers, I wipe them and donate them either to a domestic violence shelter, or a facility that helps the homeless get jobs. Both groups of people need a cheap way to get phone calls. Both of those organizations give people something like 300 minutes a month so they can get job interviews, talk to police about their situation, and stay in touch with family.
+ 911 may be called without a carrier.
+ 911 may be called without a carrier.
Now that would be a neat trick.
I think I saw a cellphone recycling machine in Walmart this week. Similar to a Redbox.
+ 911 may be called without a carrier.
Now that would be a neat trick.
Actually, federal law says all of the cell phone carriers have to pass through calls to 911 and other emergency numbers whether or not the calling phone is currently activated.
I have an old deactivated phone in my glove box that was on a different carrier than my primary phone for just that reason, in case I need to call 911 and my primary phone is damaged or I'm in in an area where it's carrier doesn't have coverage.
Edited July 16 by Lou Schneider
Actually, federal law says all of the cell phone carriers have to pass through calls to 911 and other emergency numbers whether or not the calling phone is currently activated.
I have an old deactivated phone in my glove box that was on a different carrier than my primary phone for just that reason, in case I need to call 911 and my primary phone is damaged or I'm in in an area where it's carrier doesn't have coverage.
That's correct. However, he said you could call 911 without a carrier. No way.
That's correct. However, he said you could call 911 without a carrier. No way.
Obviously some carrier has to handle the call, but the point is that the phone does not need to have an active account with any carrier.
Obviously some carrier has to handle the call, but the point is that the phone does not need to have an active account with any carrier.
Exactly.
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