Cell phones seem to be the fastest-developing technological gadgets on the market, and being stuck with older used or refurbished cell phones can be frustrating, especially when service providers and their small print are so restrictive and confusing.  Television ads encourage us daily to get the latest and greatest cellular devices, but everyone knows it is not as simple as walking into a retailer's store and exchanging a heavily used phone for one that is brand new.  You are not alone in being confused about what the first step to take is.

The first thing I suggest you do is talk with your provider's customer service. You should find out what kind of timeframe you have before you can upgrade your used cell phone for a newer one… of course, for a discounted rate. Bear in mind that you can always buy a new phone for your account if you want. Some providers have a set time before you can purchase a new phone (usually around 18 months) or else you'll be paying full retail price for the new phone. This is the price that people, who don't want a contract, would pay for the phone. For instance, you pay $50 for a contracted phone; however, you desire to have one without a contract or without waiting until you're allowed an upgrade, then you'll pay $200 for it.

If you are too far from that allowable upgrade time, I would consider finding a refurbished cell phone dealer either locally or online. This is the most common way that people choose to upgrade their phones. Your phone typically has a SIM card in it that contains the data needed to link your phone to your service provider. This card can usually be exchanged between most models of phones that are supported by your cell phone provider. For example, if you were an AT&T customer, then your SIM card would fit in any other used AT&T phone they support.  You will need to give your current phone to the dealer to trade in (or keep it and get no credit on a new phone) and pay them a discounted price for the used cell phones that you want to upgrade to. Simply replace you SIM card in the new phone and you are ready to go!

Ultimately, the best way to save money on switching phones is to do research.  The number of people who use cell phones is steadily and quickly increasing, and companies that provide cell phone services are desperate to win customers.  If you have been locked into your plan for more than a year, it is likely that the rates you are being charged are out-dated, and that there is another company out there offering cheaper ones.  In many cases it is even worth abandoning your current contract and paying the cancellation fees to sign with another company that will save you more money in the long run.  With the rapid changes taking place constantly in the industry, anyone thinking about signing any long-term contract should look carefully at the alternatives.