Bloomberg is reporting that Apple is preparing to offer a trade-in program on iPhones for the first time. The trade-ins will be done only at U.S. Apple retail stores, and customers will receive credit for the exchange instantly.
Bloomberg, via 9to5Mac:
Apple Inc. is starting an iPhone trade-in program this month aimed at getting users to upgrade to the iPhone 5 and turn in older models, people with knowledge of the plans said.
Apple has teamed up with Brightstar Corp., a mobile-phone distributor, to run the exchange program, said the people, who asked not to be identified because Apple hasn’t publicly announced the plan.
Brightstar counts among its clients electronics retailer Best Buy who recently began offering free iPhone 5s with an iPhone 4 or 4S trade-in. Apple has worked with Brightstar in order to assist AT&T and T-Mobile with their recent trade-in promotions.
The report says that the iPhones collected in the U.S. will only be sold in emerging markets.
