I was rooting for Research In Motion to make a huge comeback after having gone to their BlackBerry World 2012 convention last month. I really was. It’s no secret that the company has been having problems of late trying to stay afloat in a market that increasingly deems them irrelevant. More and more gadget users are being driven to sell old BlackBerrys to make the switch to other smartphones. However, I thought their BlackBerry 10 presentation at the convention showed that they still have what it takes to keep up with the competitions’ paces.
At least, that was until I saw the ace Apple had up its sleeve at the recently concluded World Wide Developers Convention (WWDC) 2012. RIM CEO, Thorsten Heins may repeat as much as he wants how the company sacrificed blood, sweat, and tears to ensure the BB 10 would pave the way for the company’s resurgence, but the fact of the matter is that Apple has once again proven that they are one step (or more) ahead. While the BB 10 can keep up with currently available mobile operating systems, Apple’s iOS 6 decidedly leaves every other OS (the BB 10 included) in the dust. This devastating blow may just be enough to convince former BlackBerry stalwarts to finally concede and consider trading in their BlackBerrys for something else. And when that does come to pass, what do you think happens to all those discarded Berrys?
Whether it’s Berrys or other electronic devices, a lot of them eventually end up in landfills. Sure, there are those who sell used BlackBerrys instead of throwing them away outright; and while this is an okay solution, an even better one is e-recycling.
E-recycling has three elements to it that make it a more viable solution to e-waste (or electronic waste) buildup. The first is that it refurbishes old and used electronics to make them look and work as if brand new. The second is that these devices are resold at lower price points, since they are second-hand gadgets. The fact that they are re-dressed to be as good as new makes these gadgets attractive deals to consumers. The third (and most important) one is that the unusable parts are disposed of under strictest compliance to set green standards, further minimizing the effects of e-waste.
E-recycling is a noteworthy branch of recycling because it specifically addresses e-waste, which has only just come about due to the prevalence of personal electronic devices in the last few decades. E-waste, aside from contributing to the daunting accumulation of plastics and silicon (which by themselves are already notoriously difficult to recycle to begin with), also carry harmful chemicals like lead, cadmium, and beryllium that leak from batteries, capacitors, and other electronic components. These chemicals cause a direct negative impact on the environment, rendering e-waste much more dangerous than most people initially think.
Many gadget aficionados are no doubt ready to sell used BlackBerrys if it comes to that. The best recourse would be to go to the nearest e-recycling center to give away those Berrys. After all, what better way to safeguard the future – with all the technological marvels it is sure to bring – than by going green today?
Where Will All the Berrys Go?,
Melissa
Jul 01. 2012
You are absolutely right that we should think about future, and as a result- about recycling. Very nice post!
Navin
Jul 03. 2012
Hello Melissa,
Thanks for the comment 🙂
E-waste,while seemingly no different from other types of pollution, is actually more dangerous to human health and the environment than most people think. That is why we need to make some action, Recycling will really help a lot.
mari
Jul 02. 2012
Some Asian countries can still benefit from this product. They can still be use and sold for E-recycling them!
Navin
Jul 03. 2012
Hey Mari,
Thanks for reading my article!
Yeah right, people will really get benefits from there old gadgets through selling it to recycling company like Cashforberrys. We can get cash and at the same time we can help reduce E-waste.
LaminateDallas
Jul 02. 2012
very informative and useful information. Thanks for sharing.
Navin
Jul 03. 2012
Hi LaminateDallas,
I’m glad to know that. Thank you!
Sharing is caring 🙂
Tanya
Jul 03. 2012
I do hope that we will also be able to develop the technology to disassemble those gadget so that we can reuse the materials for another purpose.
Navin
Jul 04. 2012
Hey Tanya,
That is good idea, but as of now, there are companies that are recycling gadgets so it can be reusable again.
Sahl
Jul 03. 2012
The 3 step E-recycling method is a great!
Good to see company’s taking care of the enviroment.
Navin
Jul 09. 2012
Hi Sahl,
Thanks for reading my article!
We all know that all business want to gain more profit but there are some dont mind about our environment but there are also companies that really cares for environmen like Cashforberrys
Louisa
Jul 07. 2012
Well thanks for this interesting point, apparently phones have gold and other precious metals inside of them which is why it’s quite easy to get money for old phones.
My friends are moving away from blackberry now, don’t think BB will be able to keep up with the changes in phones unless they move away from the small screen.
Navin
Jul 09. 2012
Hey Louisa,
If your friends are moving away from BB, it is good to sell it on a reputable company that give decent price for all your phones like Cashforberrys
Im glad that this article help you! 🙂
Sandra
Jul 07. 2012
Interesting information, it seems E-recycling is best method among all of them.
Navin
Jul 09. 2012
Hi Sandra,
Yes, E-recycling is really good method. We must take some action to protect our environment.
thiqar
Jul 08. 2012
Nice article and thank your valuable information and I wish you luck
Navin
Jul 09. 2012
Hello Thiqar
I hope this article really helps 🙂
Thanks!
Karen
Jul 10. 2012
The future of blackberry, no one knows what will happen on it. Can blackberry survive or will it fall down
Navin
Jul 10. 2012
Hi Karen,
Whether Research In Motion’s deal falls through or not, one thing’s for certain: The company needs to make a move now if it hopes to see a resurgence anytime soon.
Krysta
Jul 11. 2012
Lately, I’ve been contemplating whether to purchase a Blackberry or not since almost all of my friends are in BBM. But after reading this, I might as well go for Android or other unit. Anyhow, thanks for your thoughtful incite. 🙂
Navin
Jul 12. 2012
Hi Krysta!
Well, RIM recently decline in market. Im glad that this article help you 🙂
Sonia
Jul 11. 2012
Third world and some Asian countries are always been the place to dump e wastage. AN excellent article. Thanks for sharing
Navin
Jul 12. 2012
Well you are right Sonia, majority of the Asian countries just dump there used electronics without knowing that they can earn cash from it through selling electronics to reliable companies that recycle. You get your money and at the same you can help the environment.
Rashmi
Jul 13. 2012
Unfortunately, Blackberry is losing the fight for a piece of the market.. Production is not advancing, technology remains the same while other companies made huge steps forward.. Too bad 🙁
Kevin
Jul 16. 2012
Blackberry is a niche type phone that could either hold its ground or fade into the distance when it comes to popularity. I’ve heard many people who have said that their Blackberries go wrong after a few years. I would much prefer an Android or Apple smart phone personally.
Tina
Jul 18. 2012
I guess that aside from the technological disadvantage, Blackberry phones also didn’t enjoy the same level of marketing that Apple and Samsung does.
Tanmay
Jul 18. 2012
Sorry If it hurts anyones sentiments, but i really don’t consider BB a competitor to apple or Samsung or HTC.Its just nothing in front of them.Its just famous for BBM., but with the advent of whatsapp,i don’t see BBM and BB going up the ladder