The tech world is gearing up for the release of the iPhone 5S on September 10. Apple is going to use this opportunity to get a handle on the number of its devices out in the world currently before it unveils the iPhone C and has a low-cost and high-end smartphone on either end of the spectrum. In order to help with that effort, the company will be offering a program that will allow users to trade in their old device and receive a gift card for the estimated amount of their old phone. Before you do that, here is a list of the things steps you should take before you turn your phone over to the powers that be.
Step One: Backup anything you don't want to lose from your phone. This includes pictures of loved ones and friends, text messages you don't want to lose, and music and videos that you might have saved to your iPhone. Perhaps there's a particularly good score in "Candy Crush" or "Temple Run" that you'd like to prove at some point in the future, holding the Home button and the Sleep button at the same time will allow you to take a screen cap of your iPhone's display. Don't forget about calendars and other productivity tools that you would be helpless at without your iPhone. Just think, if you're not sure if you'll need it again, back it up anyway because once it's gone, it's gone forever.
Step Two: Terminate your cell phone service or switch it to a new phone. The iPhone upgrade is going to give you money toward a new phone. Odds are good most people will turn in their old iPhone and then go right to the Verizon or AT&T store to purchase a new one with the credit. Unfortunately, this will leave your phone in the hands of a stranger for however long it takes to switch over. It's best to just cut the plan entirely and pick it back up when you activate your new phone.
Step Three: Delete, Delete, Delete. This isn't to imply that the people at Apple who will be taking your phone have any malice in mind or that they'll definitely snoop through your phone given the chance. However, if you don't want to risk personal information on giving strangers the benefit of the doubt, you should delete any and all personal information. Similar to what you tracked through in Step One, it's a great idea to make sure that anything that might be traced back to you personally is gone from the phone before you bring it in. This includes all texts, apps and anything that might carry your personal information or passwords. If you're the type to keep sensitive pictures on your phone, now is the time to get rid of them you'll be handing it over to a stranger and then leaving it there for good, take no risks. While your app information will still be available in your iTunes store, getting it off the phone at least means the person who will be holding it while its refurbished can't access that information.
Step Four: Factory reset your phone. Yes, Step Three is really just for peace of mind. The real security step happens here. Factory resetting your phone will wipe all of your cell phone and clean any personal data that you've put on it since you got it. It will be just like you're taking it out of the box for the first time. To do this on an iPhone, simply go to Settings - General - Reset - Erase All Content and Settings. Make double check to make sure you've got everything you need from the phone before doing this.
Step Five: Give the phone one last run through to make sure everything sensitive and potentially trackable is gone for good. Now you're ready to get a bit of money for the phone you've taken such good care of over the years and move on to bigger and better things, like the iPhone 5S or iPhone C. Good luck!
