Old iPhones can still be put to use, or traded in for cash - Boston Globe

Millions of people will probably buy new iPhones once Apple announces a new model, as expected on Wednesday. That leaves a question: What to do with your old one?

The new phones will join some 244 million iPhones sold since the first one came out in 2007. It’s fair to say that millions are gathering dust. Here are a few things to do with yours:

â–  Give it to your kids. Every parent knows no toy in history has ever been as appealing to a kid as an iPhone. Load up your old iPhone with games and give it to a deserving child.

â–  Or give it to your mom so she can finally see the light. Or, if a Luddite has been thinking of taking the smartphone plunge, your old iPhone may help him over the hump.

â–  Use it as a teeny-tiny iPad. You’ll be able to watch videos, send e-mail, and search Wikipedia for random facts to end cocktail-party disagreements with your decommissioned iPhone â€" as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection. There’s even a camera to use.

■ Donate it to charity. Several charities accept old phones, though they probably won’t give your old phone to someone in need. Rather, the charity will sell your phone to a recycler.

Cell Phones for Soldiers will sell your ‘‘gently used’’ phone to the recycler ReCellular and use the proceeds to buy calling cards for soldiers.

â–  Join the 21st century by turning your old iPhone into an alarm clock.

■ Join the eBay hordes and sell your phone for a few hundred dollars. Or, a company called Gazelle will make an offer for your old phone. A 32 gigabyte iPhone 4S on Verizon Wireless, for example, was recently going for $237 if it’s in good condition and $90 if it’s broken. And GameStop, the video game retailer, offers cash or store credit for old iPhones. The service is available only in stores, not online.

â–  Stick that baby in a speaker dock, spring for a subscription to Pandora ($36 per year) or Spotify ($10 per month), and bam, you have a stereo.

â–  Keep the phone as a backup in case you lose your new one. Nearly one-third of cellphone owners have had their gadgets lost or stolen, according to a recent survey.

■ Use it as a camera. At its core, a decommissioned iPhone is a hard drive with a camera. Snap photos with it. No Canon needed. You can also use the iPhone to move photos and other files from one computer to another.

■ Recycle it with Apple. The company’s own recycling program will give you an Apple gift card if the phone is determined to have a ‘‘monetary value.’’ A 32 gigabyte iPhone 4S with some light scratches but in good working condition was recently estimated at $280. That’s higher than at Gazelle, but you’ll have to spend the money at Apple. The company also accepts broken phones for recycling but you won’t get any money for them.