Bamboo Mobile Estimates the U.S. Used Device Trade-in Market Reached Over $900 Million in 2012

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new report from Bamboo Mobile, a division of Compass Intelligence, there is over 324 million idle or deactivated mobile phones in the United States.  Of those devices, about 15% were actually recycled or traded back in during the year.  The new market study shows that customers are interested in recycling their devices (particularly when they sell them back to the provider) – and in some cases—are becoming more aware of the recycling options, but there is considerable room to grow.

"New programs have really brought much-needed attention to this issue.  In 2012, all of the major network operators had in-store trade-in programs; online options continued to grow and so did the availability of automated recycling kiosks in the US," says Kate Pearce, Strategist and Sr. Consultant at Compass Intelligence. 

Bamboo Mobile estimates that the buy back or trade-in market (i.e., the monetary amount that customers receive for their used devices) was valued at around $900 million in 2012 and is expected to grow to a several billion dollar market over the next few years.

Highlights from the report:

• There were an estimated 48 million used devices recycled or sold back in 2012.
• About 21% of mobile phone customers have recycled or traded in a phone.
• Carrier-owned stores (including online) account for around 61% of the traded-in devices.
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About Bamboo Mobile
Bamboo Mobile, www.bamboo-mobile.com, is an information resource designed to offer news, research and insight around mobile device reuse and recycling. Bamboo Mobile promotes device reuse and recycling as well as other sustainability efforts going on in the mobile industry. Bamboo Mobile explores issues around customer awareness, provides program rankings, and examines creative device recycling (and reuse) efforts and more.

About Compass Intelligence
Compass Intelligence, a global consulting and strategy acceleration firm, specializes in segment and vertical market intelligence for the high-tech and telecom industries; and offers clients a tailored research experience through excellent customer support. Compass Intelligence provides subscriptions and research reports, insight videos, forecasts, competitive analysis, market data and expert recommendations on multiple markets. Visit us at http://www.compassintelligence.com for more information.

For an interview or other information contact:
Kate Pearce
[email protected]

SOURCE Compass Intelligence