Select a region
Not that Apple is in need of much help selling iPhones right now, but there are reports the firm may soon expand its trade-in programme beyond the iPhone – to Android.
According to Apple blog 9to5Mac, the iPhone maker is about to roll out a new programme that will see Android smartphones accepted for trade-in, with a gift card that can be put towards an iPhone offered in exchange. They say Apple retail store staff are already undergoing training to transfer contacts and other media from Android onto iOS.
Until now, Apple has only included a step-by-step guide on its website on how to make the jump from Android to iOS, but it appears the Cupertino company wants to capitalise on the smartphone market momentum it has at the moment.
In the last quarter, more than 70 million iPhones were sold off the back of the launch of the 6 and 6 Plus – breaking all company records. This contributed to another record-breaking number – the $18 billion (£12.1bn) profit made in Q4 – the single biggest by any company in history.
Meanwhile one of Apple’s biggest rivals, Samsung, saw their yearly profits fall for the first time in three years. Though the Korean firm already looks to be hitting back with an impressive unveiling of the new Galaxy S6 and S6 edge earlier this month.
The Apple trade-in scheme began in 2013 in order to encourage iPhone users to trade-in their older model for store credit towards a new one. The rules of the scheme require those who do opt for a trade-in to purchase a new model on the same day.
It’s unclear if the same rules will apply to the Android version of the scheme, but having got Android users into the store in the first place, they’ll probably want to keep them there until they’ve bought an iPhone.
