either the upgrade incentive was obvious — of course an iphone 3 g owner would get the iphone 4 — or most self - respecting dumb phone owners getting into the market would choose an apple phone over the other options .
apple has teamed up with brightstar corp. , a mobile - phone distributor , to run the exchange program , said the people , who asked not to be identified because apple has n’t publicly announced the plan .
“ this will help them sell more phones , because it will lower the consumer ’s efforts to reignite sales growth and combat declining shares .
but it 's also a genius plot for apple to increase their market share in the places it most needs help .
those looking to get rid of their iphones for new ones , according to bloomberg 's sources — an indication of just how much the company 's market positioning has dwindled the launch of the iphone 5 ... and the re - birth of samsung 's mobile dominance .
it 's a pretty sweet set - up for someone who has an old iphone and wants a new one .
amy bessette , a spokeswoman for cupertino , california - based apple , and patrick foarde , a brightstar spokesman who works for ketchum inc. , declined to comment .
brightstar also handles trade - ins for at&t inc. ( t ) and t - mobile us inc. ( tmus ) , as well as other carriers and device makers , amid brisk demand for refurbished iphone 4s and 4ss in emerging markets .
apple inc. ( aapl ) is starting an iphone trade - in program this month aimed at getting users to upgrade to the iphone 5 and turn in older models , people with knowledge of the plans said .