Collections double in a single year, up from 10 million total collections at this time last year, as global opportunity for incentivized trade-in and device renewal programs expands

Brussels, Belgium – February 24, 2014 – eRecyclingCorps (eRC), a global leader in carrier-grade wireless device trade-in solutions, announced today that the company and its joint ventures have surpassed 20 million devices collected since the company was founded in 2009, with a record collection of 10 million devices in 2013 alone, noting increasing operator and retailer engagement and newly realized market projections.

“The scope of the trade-in market potential from 2013 alone is both tremendous and largely untapped,” said David Edmondson, CEO for eRecyclingCorps. “In doubling our collections in just one year, we see both the increasing demand and awareness, but also the far-reaching opportunity for incentivized trade-ins. When consumers unlock the retained value of their phone, a series of positive events take place. The consumer saves money. The operator improves customer retention, satisfaction and increases revenue via greater data usage all while reducing the environmental impact of discarded devices.”

eRC is helping carriers and OEMs realize the benefits of incentivized trade-in programs. Having started in the United States, incentivized programs are building strong global traction, particularly with tier-one operators in Europe and a growing number in Asia. Globally, operators are currently collecting millions of used devices every year – a number that is only on the rise.

In 2013 approximately one billion phones were retired, according to Gartner’s Market Trend: How Communications Service Providers Create Value from Disposed Mobile Phone (Annette Zimmerman, 18 September 2013). eRC estimates that those billion phones equate to more than $100 billion in untapped value potential.

The expanding mobile trade-in market creates a vast amount of residual value for operators to unlock through the use of eRC’s solution. For example, one in every two European users keeps their old smartphone after purchasing a new one, even though the used device can have a trade-in value as high as €220/$300*.

Partnering with several North American and European carriers and retailers, the eRC trade-in solution provides tailored support programs that increase trade volume and profitability. By integrating the eRC platform into the sales and marketing processes and systems in the retail environment, operators can deliver a transparent, instant and convenient device trade-in program for its customers. The traded devices are then restored and sold at a more compelling price point, as compared to new devices, either domestically or in emerging markets to drive digital inclusion around the world.

“Ninety-five percent of the 20 million phones eRC has collected to date have been returned to use as affordable restored devices,” said Edmondson.  “These phones enable consumers—especially those in developing countries around the world—to harness the power of the Internet to enhance their quality of life.”

* The study commissioned by eRC and conducted by SKOPOS surveyed consumers across seven EU countries about their habits and attitudes on trading in smartphones.