How to Decommission and Recycle Corporate Mobile Devices

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Over 60% of companies issue mobile phones to their employees, but these devices don’t last forever. Components wear out, software slows down, and technology advances, making older models inefficient and eventually obsolete. When it’s time to upgrade devices or corporate mobile fleet, what options does your organization have for repurposing its phones, iPads, and laptops, and how can you discard end of life (EOL) devices in a secure, compliant, eco-friendly way?

Step 1

Confirm that Your Device Has Reached EOL Status

The definition of end-of-life (EOL) can vary by manufacturer, and some break it down into specific stages. Despite these differences, key themes are consistent:

Once a device reaches EOL status, it typically stops receiving software updates. This is a major concern, as devices without regular security updates and technical support become wide open to a growing number of cybersecurity risks.
Additionally, manufacturers usually end repair and support services for a model once it hits EOL.
To find out your phone’s EOL date, you can visit endoflife.date and search by make and model. You can also sort by manufacturer to see if your phone still receives security updates.

However, these processes can be resource-intensive, which is why many companies turn to a trusted partner for end-to-end mobile device management. These experts help alleviate the burden of EOL processes by tracking updates and EOL dates, plus Help Desk support and repairs for mobile fleets.

It’s important to note that just because a device has reached EOL status doesn’t mean it’s no longer usable. The device won’t stop functioning immediately, but you may find that it can no longer support certain application updates. This leads us to the next consideration: whether the device should be repaired or replaced.

Step 2

Decide to Repair or Replace the Device

To determine whether your phone should be repaired or replaced with a newer model, consider these questions:

Is the device underperforming? Frequent slowdowns, crashes, or lag during basic tasks indicate that the device is struggling to keep pace with current software demands.
Can the device support the latest operating system updates and essential apps? If not, it might be time for a replacement.
Does the battery drain quickly? A rapidly depleting battery is a sign that the device is nearing the end of its usable life.
Is there significant physical damage affecting usability? Issues like a cracked screen or damaged ports may warrant repair. You’ll need to decide whether fixing these problems is worth it for extending the device’s life or if replacement is better.

Step 3

Making Repairs

EOL devices can often be redeployed, but they may require repairs first. The best repairs come from certified, reputable shops or Authorized Service Providers who use genuine parts and have security measures in place to protect data during a repair. A trusted mobile device management partner can help, providing certified repairs under insurance and maintenance plans, even offering 24- and 48-hour turnarounds in some instances.

If a device needs frequent repairs to function properly, it may be more cost-effective to replace it altogether.

Nearly half of healthcare-related breaches are due to end-of-life system vulnerabilities.

Step 4

Replacing and Decommissioning the Device

When your device is beyond repair, it has officially reached the end of its life and is ready for disposal. The first step is to decommission the device, which involves resetting it and removing all corporate data. Mobile devices often store a wide range of personal and sensitive corporate information that must be securely deleted before being packed and shipped off for recycling. Failing to do so can put your company’s intellectual property at risk.

Here’s what you need to do:

1 Back Up Necessary Data:

Ensure that all important data is backed up before wiping the device.

2 Remove All Data:

After backing up, delete all corporate and personal information. A factory reset will erase most data, but advanced recovery methods might still retrieve sensitive information. Use reputable, NIST-certified data wiping tools to ensure that data is permanently destroyed.

3 Update Your Endpoint Management System:

Remember to remove the device from your endpoint management system to ensure it is no longer listed in your mobile inventory.

Ready to order your new device? Mobility partners can also be helpful when upgrading phones or even an entire fleet. They offer procurement assistance, self-service ordering portals complete with purchasing controls, and streamlined processes for bulk orders.

See how Linus Health Gained 50% More Mobile Efficiency

Step 5

Recycle the Decommissioned Device

How can your organization ensure that devices are recycled in a compliant and environmentally friendly way?

Ask yourself these questions when looking for a mobile recycling partner:

Is the partner certified by the device manufacturer or service provider?
Do they hold ISO 14001:2015 and R2 environmental certifications? These certifications ensure that the partner is knowledgeable about securely wiping devices and adhering to industry standards for repair and recycling.
Are they compliant with federal laws regulating the recycling of devices and batteries? Compliance also requires proper documentation to track and report on environmental impact.
Do they offer asset tracking? This ensures that devices are disposed of effectively and that their lifecycle is properly managed.

Up to 80% of a discarded mobile phone can be reused in some way.

Step 6

Get Cash Back on Your Devices

Don’t forget to investigate a corporate buyback program, which allows you to get cash returns on your EOL devices. Look for a program that accepts devices regardless of their condition, offering bulk wireless buyback at competitive rates along with repair, reclamation, recycling services, and comprehensive reporting for mobility managers to maintain visibility and control throughout the device lifecycle.

Tangoe One Mobile Logistics

6 Reasons to Choose Tangoe for Mobile Device Recycling

Tangoe’s comprehensive end-of-life services are simple and secure, ensuring data is removed, compliance is maintained, and environmental impact data is visible and minimized. Automation works on the backend to accelerate would-be manual tasks, making device decommissioning more productive. Learn how the creation of a custom workflow automatically wipes data and resets devices to prevent sensitive patient and healthcare data from being potentially seen outside of the organization.

Here’s why you want to work with Tangoe for mobile device recycling: 

1

Certified recycling partners and NIST-certified data-wiping processes 

2

R2-certified and zero-waste-to-landfill certified facilities (this means we use environmentally friendly methods to reduce the amount of waste in landfills)

3

Tracked environmental impact data, available quarterly to clients 

4

Real-time market pricing intelligence used to estimate the value of recovered devices and replace retired ones 

5

Insurance against mobile data leaks

6

Comprehensive management services across every phase of the device lifecycle  