Recycled handsets to top $3B in revenues by 2012

More than 100 million recycled handsets are expected to be shipped in 2012, generating more than $3 billion in revenue, according to a study from ABI Research.
Demand for recycled handsets is being driven by shorter handset replacement periods, growing demand for low-cost handsets in emerging markets, regulatory requirements and growing consumer awareness, said ABI.
“Mobile phone recycling companies such as ReCellular, Fonebak, and Eazyfone are witnessing good market growth, but increasing consumer awareness and retrieving used handsets at affordable prices are still key challenges,” said Shailendra Pandey, analyst at ABI. “Also, the [average selling price] of used handsets falls rapidly, so these handsets need to be handled at the lowest possible cost to ensure decent margins on their resale.”