Introduction: Get Free Cellphones
People seem to be addicted to having the most fancy and modern gadgets they can get their hands on even if their old one still works fine. So, there are a lot of working cellphones out there and they have some quite cool parts in them. My brother (ALPHA G33K) and I discovered a very easy way to get them which I will share with you.
Step 1: Get the Phones
Cellphone dealers (I get them from Rogers wireless) get old phones brought to them for recycling and they usually have a box of them stashed somewhere. I would recommend bringing them some sort of peace offering or baksheesh when you go. We just told them that we liked taking things apart and were wondering if they had any old cellphones we could have. They willingly showed us their box and said we were welcome to the contents and could come back whenever. BINGO!
Step 2: The Parts
So far most of the ones we've gotten have actually worked which is kinda fun in and of itself but, my favorite part is the battery. They are small and powerful lithiums and if you have the right charger, you can charge them up in the phone and then they can be used for projects. Of course you are not likely to have the right charger on hand, but there are often chargers in with the old phones. If there are, you can get the matching phone. They also have a neat LCD, a speaker, a mini camera and a mic. I haven't actually got one of the LCDs to run off of an Arduino yet but I'm pretty sure it would be quite possible.
So there you go. Good luck!
27 Comments
3 months ago
I also have a Nokia 6103 from Rogers!!!!!!!!
5 years ago
Sounds like a good idea!
6 years ago
Can Anyone Send To Me Some Stuff Of Computer Parts Please Ineed its
13 years ago on Introduction
the mics and speakers can sometimes be used as piezo pickups for musical instruments too, although I have had no luck getting local cell phone places to release any.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
The pickup idea is a good one. I'm sorry to hear you haven't managed to get any yet. What stores did you try and what did they say?
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
bell, and telus, but I shall persevere---I still use an old samsung I built out of three---lots of spare parts----lol
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
That's pretty neat.
My younger brother and I have an extra cell (without a charger) which we wouldn't mind sending you if you Private Message me your address. We go to Rogers but I guess they are Canadian.
Reply 7 years ago
can I get a free cellphone
Reply 7 years ago
Yeah, what parts do you need? I'm traveling right now, can can you remind me in January?
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
My brother (ALPHA G33K) and I packaged the phone up and, if all goes well, I will be shipping it tomorrow!
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
thanks--I never thought about the LCDs ---gotta be something fun to do with them---parallel out of a VGA or something.....and the batteries....
7 years ago
can I get a free cellphone
12 years ago on Step 2
when my phone broke I took it apart and salvaged a few parts. unfortunately, the connectors are these weird-little-flat-clip-sorta-things, which I have no way to connect to anything else. do you know of a way to connect them to anything?
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
The micro USB connectors can be quite useful for other projects (Think... Arduino!) and are a synch to solder with a decent iron and some flux.
If you are using the battery for a project (like a souped up MP3 player), the little Nokia power jacks are convenient for charging.
Good luck,
GMD
12 years ago on Introduction
If you are looking for free old cell phones you could post on Craigslist, Kijiji or a Freecycle group. You can also get them cheap from Value Village or other thrift stores that sell electronics.
12 years ago on Introduction
cant i get such phones here in india ???
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
That's a good question. You could check around or contact some local mobile dealers. I don't actually know the answer, being from Canada.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
you live in canada? may i ask what city?
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Campbell River. I don't actually live in it but it's the nearest city with a cell dealer.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
here in india , nokia recycles old phones so they hav put bins all over so that people put their old phones in there , so i was thing of getting a few from dere but , those bins are placed in nokia centers and people are all over ... i'm scared of getting beaten up :)