GreenCells is excited about our mission to prove this latest reuse trend. We’re working hard to gather our enthusiastic customers to proudly say, “I bought used, and I loved it.” Do that today by finding us on Facebook and becoming a fan. Then make a post and tell us about your appreciation of reuse. Over the next few years, you’ll be part of the movement that brings reuse to the mainstream; just as reduce and recycle have gone before it.

 Today’s cell and smart phone models suit any style and taste. There seems to be a movement away from flip style; however, the flip has its selling points. With an intuitive interface and a compact size, it can be very functional. From the flip phones used on the original Star Trek TV series to the popular StarTAC in the 90s to the first RAZR of a few years ago, we are left with a multitude of different variations today, many fully loaded with the sophisticated features found on smart phones.

Just think about making phone calls with early Blackberrys that had voice capabilities – they did not resemble phones at all and were somewhat clunky. Flips, on the other hand, extend from ear to mouth, so you do not have to ever take the phone away from your ear to speak clearly into the mic or vice versa.

Smart phones are getting better for voice conversations. And, in the future, we will likely see clever new ways to use the flip design to meet the needs of today’s consumers – think of a folding touchscreen device that, when fully extended, acts as a single screen surface. Better intuitive ideas, incorporating flip, are bound to come in the near future.

Americans are going green in record numbers, with many taking another look at reuse as an eco-friendly and value-focused solution.

We don’t have to look too far for inspiration. We’re all familiar with the frugal habits of those who lived through the Depression. Today, this thrifty thinking is a way to be green and save money at the same time. Increasingly, Americans are more cost-conscious than ever. People are biking to work instead of driving, reusing water bottles, and buying—from clothes to electronics—secondhand.

We can no longer afford to be a throwaway society. Like generations before us, today’s consumer is spending wisely while taking socially responsible steps to make “reduce, reuse, recycle” a part of everyday life.

Today’s consumers are increasingly turning to reuse in order to waste less, save more, and be good to the environment. There are two driving forces that will bring reuse to the mainstream—fashion and value:

• Fashion—We buy products, including cell phones, that reflect our values. As reuse gains in popularity (see National Geographic’s 2009 Greendex survey), the tremendous benefits of reuse become better understood. That’s why GreenCells customers are proudly displaying their reuse purchases.
• Value—GreenCells offers reused products at half the price of new. We ship the products for free. If for any reason, a product is unsatisfactory,   we pay to ship it back and provide a full refund. Additionally, we offer a full year warranty with no deductibles or monthly fees—beating out any carrier or manufacturer’s new warranty. And don’t forget all of the options that are just not available with new, such as trade in/trade up.

If you’re thinking of reuse as a smart move, you’re in good company. This trend is shaping the way we will buy and live in the future.

 

In general terms, reuse is defined as extending the life of an item. While reuse is a growing trend, too often, it is not even an option. And for many, reuse is misunderstood.

Many of our customers come to GreenCells as a second choice but then make us their preferred choice for future buying decisions. They trust us for value-priced quality cell phones that help them do the right thing for the environment.

Think about the green choices available to consumers today. Hybrid cars or more efficient appliances come at a higher cost, reducing the energy we need via innovation. As another example, builders often claim that building green or LEED certification is highly expensive.  Thirty years ago, sorting through garbage or paying extra to go green would not even have been a consideration. But now eco-friendly purchases and recycling are common practice. In the continuum taught to us in grammar school of reduce, reuse, and recycle, mainstream reuse is next.

It’s the early stages of a partnership between environment and business. We dabbled with environmentalism and alternative energy in the 1970s, in light of rising oil prices. But this time around, the case for going green is compelling, and the sense of urgency is more acute.

Today’s best green products and services compete on price and performance while contributing to a collective environmental ideal. At GreenCells, while we define ourselves as a green business, our key focus is satisfying our customers’ emerging expectations. We do this by creating a green marketplace for unmatched value that makes green choices easy choices. We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from customers who feel like they’re now part of the solution. Find us on Facebook to let us know your appreciation of reuse!

Motorola Droid
Pros: A worthy challenge to Apple 's iPhone is finally here, and it’s on the Verizon network. Powered by Google's Android 2.0, the Droid steps up to the plate with several features that the iPhone lacks, such as a physical keypad, taking night shots, running simultaneous applications, supporting open development, and interchangeable batteries.

Cons: The dial pad controls are restricted to the home screen. The Droid does not support Bluetooth voice dialing, and the application selection is not as robust as the competition.

Conclusion: What makes the Droid an attractive adversary to the iPhone is the fact that it has the ability to run multiple apps, has a physical keyboard (also a touch screen) and most importantly, it runs on Verizon’s 3G network. Despite some minor technical shortfalls, the Motorola Droid is by far the most advanced Android device available.

Apple iPhone 3GS
Pros: The iPhone 3GS brings subtle improvements to an already feature-rich phone. The iPhone 3GS now boasts multimedia messaging and video recording. It also runs faster than its predecessor and has improved battery life.

Cons: The AT&T’s 3G network remains spotty, and multitasking is still not supported.

Conclusion: The iPhone 3GS has been upgraded with much-needed improvements. Although the network can still use some beefing up, the iPhone 3GS still stands out among the competition.

BlackBerry Bold 9700
Pros: The Blackberry Bold 9700 has seen major hardware improvements over its predecessor. The Bold now features a faster processor, optical track pad, and an improved display. The Bold is fully connected with intergraded 3G, Wi-Fi, and GPS.

Cons: Applications are limited and the Internet browser does not provide as rich of an experience as the competition.

Conclusion: The Blackberry Bold 9700 had much more power under the hood and the optical track pad is a significant improvement over the trackball. Unfortunately, the Internet browsing experience still is lacking.

Palm Pre
Pros: The Palm Pre has hit the ball out of the park when it comes to multitasking and system notifications. The Pre features a feature-rich and fully functional operating system, along with a sleek design.

Cons: The Pre’s multitasking capabilities come at a cost; at times the operating system can be slow and battery life drains fast.

Conclusion: Palm has certainly engineered a powerful operating system. Paired up with 3G, Wi-Fi and GPS, the Pre is a very powerful device. Unfortunately, the short battery life really is holding this phone back.

Motorola Cliq
Pros: The Motorola Cliq has both a touchscreen and a slide-out keyboard. The Cliq also is the first phone to have MotoBlur, Motorola’s skin for Android. MotoBlur's widget gives you instant access to Facebook, Gmail, Last.fm, MySpace, Twitter, Yahoo, and other social networks that are constantly connected and continually updated on the app.

Cons: Doesn't ship with newest version of Android OS 1.6. MotoBlur can be a bit overwhelming at first, but ultimately it is quite useful.

Conclusion: The Motorola Cliq is definitely for hardcore social networkers. The Cliq gives you quick and seamless access to all of your accounts and includes a well-designed QWERTY keyboard for typing long messages.



It’s been more than two years since Apple launched the iPhone and ushered in a new age in portable gadgets. The iPhone’s biggest breakthrough was the amazingly friendly touchscreen. While there were others before it, none had the fun built in like the iPhone. Within months, there were models—from LG, Samsung, and others—that duplicated the iPhone’s playful interface. 

That iPhone launched at $500 with a two-year contract and more than $700 without one, and its competitors were priced almost the same. Thanks to the wonder of reuse, now you can get a fantastic touchscreen with the WOW factor for under $100, without a contract. This pricing finally allows the mainstream to get in on the fun. And the best part is that most do not require a data plan, or any change to your plan, and can be used on both pre-paid and post-paid plans. 

We currently have a GSM model for AT&T, T-Mobile, and others, the LG Vu CU920 touchscreen (and like all our phones, it comes with a free year warranty and free 360° shipping). Take a look at the links below: 

AT&T customers 

Unlocked GSM customers

(Use coupon code “green” for 10% off.)