Apple, Inc. is making available to its customers a "Reuse and Recycle" program that allows you to send in your current iPhone in exchange for an Apple gift card worth up to $345 that can be used towards purchasing any Apple products - perhaps the iPhone 5 upon its anticipated September launch?
The program, which is accessible here, accepts all generations of iPhones including the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Once the user has accessed the site, they are prompted to select their iPhone series, and then input the amount of memory and color of the device before being redirected to a screen with several questions regarding the phone's condition.
The questions are as follows: Does the iPhone work properly? Does the battery fully charge? Are there any cracks or damages to either the display or the case? Are there light to moderate scratches or scuffs on either the display or the case? Has the iPhone been water damaged? Lastly, have all content and settings been removed and is the power cord supplied?
Once the answers have been supplied, the user is taken to the next screen and given an estimate as to the value of the phone.
Apple has partnered with PowerON for this recycling program. PowerON is a company that specializes in the reuse and recycling of IT assets. PowerON calculates the fair market value of each iPhone and then provides the user with prepaid options for shipping the phone to their facility to be evaluated. Once the evaluation process is complete and Apple confirms the value of the phone, the company then mails a gift card out to the customer, who is invited to spend it either in-store or online.
The gift card will likely come in handy in the near future, as rumors circulate the Internet about the possible unveiling of the next generation iPhone 5 on or around September 12th and subsequent retail launch slated for September 21st. According to reports, Apple will begin taking preorders for the iPhone 5 on September 12th as well.