8 Uses for an Old Smartphone

Old smartphones never exit–they just grind to a halt in a drawer after beingness replaced aside something newer and cooler. Ah, well, that's what happens in these fast-technical school times, right? Out with the outdated, in with the latest and greatest.

That's legitimate for MP3 players and digital cameras, mayhap. But smartphones? They'rhenium another story. A smartphone sitting in a drawer is a waste of pocket major power. In fact, whether you have an old BlackBerry Pearl, a Palm tree Centro, a T-Mobile G1, or even a best-gen iPhone, you have plenty of ways to put an aged handset to smashing use. Later on all, you paid good money for that once-titillating communicator, so why not get some extra bang for your Pearl Buck?

Below I've rounded up seven merriment and practical ways to resurrect an stale smartphone (as well every bit an eighth option). Not every suggestion listed here will shape with every speech sound, but I guarantee that you'll get leastwise a little more mileage from your moldy mobile.

Keep an emergency phone accessible: Accordant to FCC rules, a deactivated smartphone (or, for that matter, any cell phone) still should be capable of making one form of speech sound call: 911. And then wherefore not sting your old phone in, allege, your mit compartment or office desk for use in slip of emergency? After all, you ne'er know when you might lose or break your primary phone. (I know: right when you plow your elevator car into a snowbank.) Conscionable make a point to stimulate approximately kind of superpowe supply available, whether information technology's an Atomic number 89 adapter, a car charger, or an external backup battery. Likewise, a deactivated phone fire't conduct its location to an wheeler dealer, so sample not to get lost in the woods.

Use it as a Wi-Fi call up: Just because you'Re no thirster paying a carrier for your old phone doesn't tight you can't use it to make phone calls. If the handset has Wi-Fi capabilities, you can bypass the carrier and use a Voice-over-IP service so much every bit Fring, Skype, or Truphone. For example, Truphone apps are available for Android, BlackBerry, iOS, and Nokia Ovi, and they support unlimited liberal calls to other Truphone users. Pauperization to call a landline or cellular phone phone? You terminate coiffe that, as well; rates start at around $0.02 per minute. Bottom line: If you have accession to Wi-Fi, your phone can be a phone once more.

It's still a utterly good MP3 player: True Stone Age smartphones same the Palm Treo stern get out double duty as an MP3 player. Why bother if you already possess, say, an iPod? Simple–since it doesn't subject if your overaged phone takes a beating, it's the perfect MP3 companion for mountain biking, rock climbing, the Running of the Bulls, and other rigorous activities that might prove too perilous for your "best" musician. Not going skydiving anytime soon? Turn over your old phone to your sixer-year-nonmodern–later on stocking it with favorite Disney songs, of course.

Who needs a Nintendo DS? So the IT department doesn't want you to onus Angry Birds on the company iPhone. That doesn't mean you can't still have diverting on the run. You behind feel games aplenty for all smartphones, including older models with resolution-challenged screens and poky processors. Even if you strike down your cellular service, your experient sound can still access its respective app stock via Badger State-Fi. Solitaire, chess, sudoku, Bejeweled–you'll witness all the classics and more. And, sure, perhaps you've moved on to large and better diversions on your rife ring, but the old model power make the pure game-me-down for the kids.

You've always wanted an e-reader: Why expend money on a Kindle when your smartphone offers the same basic functionality? All you need is an e-reader app; Virago itself offers apps for Android, BlackBerry, iOS, and Windows Phone 7. If you want e-books for your Palm or Windows Mobile device, try eReader or Mobipocket. Sure, a phone's concealment is smaller than a Kindle's, only it's also backlit–a nice perk when you're trying to read in get laid. This way, you North Korean won't need to worry about moving perfect your phone battery patc perusing the classics.

It can't hurt to have more portable storage: While I'm on the subject of saving money, why buy a scud drive when your smartphone offers the identical basic functionality? Most phone models have at least a couple gigabytes' worth of along-board storage, and most furnish removable-push-same capabilities when plugged into a USB porthole. (iPhone users will need a third-political party utility such Eastern Samoa iPhone Explorer to tap the on-board memory.) Use your phone as a mobile data-storage unit for transporting large files, backing up important documents, and the like.

Remember the Pocket PC? A mighty powerful CPU lurks inside that quondam phone, so why not trespass of IT–even if it's just for basic, everyday tasks? Set out the handset to work as a financial or mortgage calculator, an alarm time surgery universe clock, a to-do list manager, or a digital notepad. Heck, if you have Internet access via Wisconsin-Fi, you can use the phone for quick-and-dirty Google searches and other WWW activities. Check sites such as Handango for oodles of software that throne run happening older phones.

Non liking any of these options? Recycle or sell your old smartphone. Subsequently all, IT's a shame to hang on to a neat gadget that a less-cutting-border person else could put to good use. Scan "Sell Your Gently Used Tech Gadgets Online" for tips happening merchandising Oregon recycling your old tech for a trifle of cash that can help fund your electronic addiction.