MobileActive08
Note by Allison Hewlitt:
Opportunities & Risks for Mobile Recycling and Re-use
notes from Luke Pedersen
3 billion people worldwide are in need of affordable communication.
100 million mobiles a year in the U.S are retired
$30 is the cheapest available mobile worldwide (average)
Current process between operators, individuals and resellers.
Case study in France:
On average 25000 mobiles are being refurbed by (company)
Operators give old mobiles to be refurbished/repaired/resold. This means they are able to resell for about 10 Euros. Currently only 20% of their mobiles are sold within France, the remaing 80% is in storage.
The challenge of how to sell refurbed mobiles across borders.
Language barrier on mobiles that are locked to a specific language.
Biggest challenge is that new handsets are sold too cheaply.
Refurbished mobiles offer employment opportunities for semi-skilled labour. Formal training is not necessary required.
Is there a micro-enterprise model for a refurb business?
Financial sustainability of this type of model?
One major factor is the benefit to the environment which is not always quantifiable in financial terms.
notes from Luke Pedersen
3 billion people worldwide are in need of affordable communication.
100 million mobiles a year in the U.S are retired
$30 is the cheapest available mobile worldwide (average)
Current process between operators, individuals and resellers.
Case study in France:
On average 25000 mobiles are being refurbed by (company)
Operators give old mobiles to be refurbished/repaired/resold. This means they are able to resell for about 10 Euros. Currently only 20% of their mobiles are sold within France, the remaing 80% is in storage.
The challenge of how to sell refurbed mobiles across borders.
Language barrier on mobiles that are locked to a specific language.
Biggest challenge is that new handsets are sold too cheaply.
Refurbished mobiles offer employment opportunities for semi-skilled labour. Formal training is not necessary required.
Is there a micro-enterprise model for a refurb business?
Financial sustainability of this type of model?
One major factor is the benefit to the environment which is not always quantifiable in financial terms.
