Smart Phones are cell phones that come with a lot of extra bells and whistles, such as GPS abilities, email, internet, video and music players, and on and on.  Many people choose a smart phone because they offer the ability to increase individual productivity.  Others prefer a smart phone because of the entertainment features that it offers.  However, the down side to all the cool extra features that these phones come with a much higher price tag when compared to normal cell phones.

The most popular models of the smart phone, like the Blackberry and the iPhone, are considered the top-of-the-line when it comes to cellular phone technology.  When these phones first come out, people often wait in lines for hours to get their hands on one.  These phones commonly remain at the top of current technology for months at a time, meaning cell phone carriers do not offer discounts on these phones very often, especially any time near when the phone is released.

If you're interested in getting a smart phone for your personal use but want to avoid paying the high price tag, consider an alternative option, like a used Blackberry.  It is only a myth that smart phones have to be bought through wireless carriers.  Numerous third party vendors carry a wide selection of used cell phones, including smart phones, that can be purchased at discounted prices and activated on your network.

Purchasing a refurbished smart phone is an excellent way to get a like-new phone at a discounted price.  Phones that are returned to cellular carriers for whatever reason are then "refurbished" and resold.  Usually, refurbished phones carry some kind of a manufacturers warranty, are restored to factory settings, and are cleaned up so that it will hardly be noticable that the phone has been used.  In fact, some refurbished cell phones have never been used.  When a cell phone package is opened up, the phone can no longer be sold as new.

Used smart phones are sometimes difficult to find right after a particular model of phone is released, but once a phone is out for a while, it should be no problem finding it in the used market.  However, as original owners upgrade or decide that this model is not right for them, more become available.  When you're purchasing used cell phones, one thing you need to make sure you look for is a warranty.  If you can find a phone with a good warranty, you can truly take advantage of the cost savings associated with purchasing used phones over new ones.

Finally, if you can find a smart phone that is unlocked, you'll be able to take advantage of going the used route even more.  Unlocked phones are able to be activated on several different networks, meaning that if you can find a great deal on an unlocked used Sprint Blackberry, you'll be able to take advantage of the good price even if you operate on a different network, like Verizon.