The electronics retailer is offering this opportunity to iPhone owners over the Labor Day weekend.
Best Buy ran a new promotion over the weekend that allowed the owners of certain Apple gadgets to be able to bring in their old version of the iPhone devices in order to take part in a trade-in that would allow them to purchase the current version of the device, the iPhone 5.
The event ran for the length of the holiday weekend and gave a considerable discount on the current Apple device.
The electronics retailer offered people who brought in their old iOS gadgets the opportunity to purchase the current iPhone 5 – in either the 16 GB or 32 GB version – at a discount of 50 percent. It was focused specifically at individuals trading in their functional iPhone 4 or their iPhone 4S.
This gadget trade-in trend is growing among retailers and has been over the last few months.
The reason that gadgets retailers are promoting the current iPhone 5 with massive discounts through old iPhone or other devices is that it is expected that the next version of the Apple smartphone will soon be released, and they are hoping to clear the older version of the product off their shelves before that happens. This type of promotion is starting to happen quite routinely as some of the leading manufacturers release upgrades to their previous generations of devices.
It has also been suggested that Apple, itself, has certain programs up its sleeve to encourage the exchange of old gadgets for their latest devices. For example, they have already created programs through carrier partners such as T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon Communications. However, it is also expected to begin an in-store program that would allow consumers to trade in their old iOS devices so that they would be able to obtain a discount when it comes time to purchasing a newer model.
The latest rumors are suggesting that Apple will be unveiling both an iPhone 5S, as well as an iPhone 5C, on September 10, 2013. The speculations about the new device are soaring and have already even suggested that T-Mobile and AT&T employees have been told that they will not be allowed vacation time during the time on and surrounding September 20, suggesting that that may be the weekend in which the products will be officially launched.
Mobile commerce may be supported by the next iPhone
The world of mobile technology continues to move at break-neck speeds. Roughly six months after the launch of the iPhone 5, there are rumors circulating through the technology world concerning the next iteration of Apple’s iPhone. Apple is almost certainly working on a new mobile device, but whether it will be a new iPhone has yet to be revealed. The company has been looking to hire new talent that could hint toward the possible future of the iPhone, however, especially its future in the realm of mobile commerce.
Job listings hint at possible uses for AuthenTec technology
Several job listings for Apple are calling to software engineers and other talented individuals. One of these postings is for a position in Apple’s Melbourne Design Center in Florida, where AuthenTec is located. AuthenTec is a security company that Apple acquired in 2012 and Apple has been leveraging the company’s security solutions in order to ensure that mobile devices as protected against malicious attacks. These solutions could come in handy as Apple begins to take mobile commerce more seriously.
Apple backs away from mobile commerce with iPhone 5
In the months before the official launch of the iPhone 5, Apple had hinted that mobile commerce would be a significant focus for the new mobile device. Rumors suggested that the iPhone 5 would be equipped with NFC technology, making it capable of facilitating mobile transactions. This was not the case, however, as Apple adopted a slow and steady approach to the issue of mobile commerce, suggesting that NFC technology was simply not secure enough for the company’s interests in this particular field. While the iPhone 5 has not become the mobile payments platform that many consumers had hoped for, Apple has not abandon its interest in mobile commerce in any significant way.
Security solution could make mobile payments secure through a new iPhone
Apple has recently acquired trademarks for “AuthenTec” and “KeepSafe,” the latter of which refers to a security solution that may be a prominent feature of a future iteration of the iPhone. KeepSafe is a fingerprint enabled application that allows users to encrypt digital information. This information can only be accessed through fingerprint scan, making this information exceptionally secure as it can only be accessed by the owner of the fingerprint on file. This could add a significant layer of protection for Apple’s mobile commerce endeavors if the company has plans to make a future iPhone with mobile payment capabilities.
