Source for cheap used Android phones

[Project Journeyman]

Does anyone know of a good source of used Android phones for app
testing or projects?

I'm a little late to the party - after I finally got a new phone and
turned my OG Droid into a WiFi project phone, I realized I didn't want
to risk it for some of the projects I have in mind. So I checked out
eBay and found that people apparently know how valuable old Android
phones are (or get into bidding frenzies), because they go for more
than I'd like to spend.

Does anyone have a secret source for these magical WiFi-enabled
computers or should I just accept that I won't find one for pennies on
the dollar? I really just need something with working WiFi and camera
(don't care about the cell radio).

-Tim

[Blaine Bublitz]

Hey Tim,

I don't know how cheap you are thinking, but I can find you an unlimited supply of $100 android phones if you don't mind a 600mhz processor.  Tmobile prepaid and Virgin Mobile are selling the LG Optimus T (or V) for $100 with no contract or anything (because they are prepaid).  I can send you a link from slickdeals if that is in your price range.

-Blaine

[Joakim Erdfelt]

If you don't mind a contract, then you can get Android phones off Amazon for $0.01

Example: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M5HB6U/

- Joakim

[Blaine Bublitz]

Phone's on contract end up costing you more in the end than buying phones off of ebay.  $100 is the cheapest your are going to get an android phone if hardware specs are no issue.

[Project Journeyman]

Hah, the $1000+ over the lifetime cost of the contract isn't very
appealing compared to the list price for even new phones.

To clarify, a test/project phone is in addition to my main phone that
I already have a contract for. I'm looking to buy a piece of hardware
cheap, not buy a liability.

Blaine - thanks for the reality check on prices. I think my mental
model was just too low. I was hoping to find some beat up used phones
for closer to $30, but that appears to be unrealistic. I'll keep
watching ebay for deals on Cyanogenmod-capable phones (worth a little
more since they'd be easier to repurpose).

Tim

[pdnm...@gmail.com]

Curious why to test on so many of the same phones? Is this for multiple co-workers to be testing?
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

[Project Journeyman]

I would be interested in different types of phones for testing, but
possibly similar types for projects. For example, destructive
projects, using phone as a security camera, etc.

[Mike Wolfson]

We bought a suite of phones for testing at work.  We bought use phones through Amazon (just for ease of purchasing with one credit card from a single source).  There is an site named Swappa, which is a marketplace specifically for Android phones.  I didn't find any deals there, but there was a comprehensive set of offerings.

The phones were all around $100 (give or take $50 depending on model).

The single best test phone we purchased was the Motorola Charm, which is a small screen device, landscape mode (it has a fixed keyboard), and Moto Blur - it is the perfect combination of suckness - if our app works on this phone, it will work everywhere.

[Donn Felker]

"

it is the perfect combination of suckness - if our app works on this phone, it will work everywhere.

"

I love it. 

The Sony Experia is also full of suck too. But I agree with Mike. I bought a suite of phones. I have 7 right now and probably going to pick up a few more like the one Mike mentioned. 

I went on craigslist. I found that Yakety Yak Wireless has used ANdroid phones for pretty cheap. Just take them home, give them a good run through when you first get it to make sure its not messed up so you can return it in time for the refund/exchange window. 

Donn Felker
Author of Android Tablet Dev for Dummies (Summer 2011)
Author of Android App Dev for Dummies  & Intro to Android Development (tekpub.com)
Microsoft ASPInsider, MCTS, MCP, CSM, ITIL
http://blog.donnfelker.com
http://twitter.com/donnfelker

[pdnmusic]

Hey so as I jump into this kinda of in this middle... I was curious why a bunch of phones would be purchased?
For testing your developed apps on different android models?

On Fri, Sep 2, 2011 at 7:47 PM, Project Journeyman <aseriesofsm...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Michael Wolfson]

Yes to test on multiple different devices.

Up until recently, this was the only way to test Sense UI (HTC's overlay - they recently released a developer kit, I haven't played with it).  It is much easier to have MotoBlur, Sense, and TouchWiz devices around, instead of dealing with custom configurations and multiple development kits.

It is a lot easier to play with a mobile app on a device, to really understand how it works.  While you can pretty much configure the emulator to simulate most things, it is usually a lot easier to test on actual devices (not to mention faster).

--
***************************************************************************
Mike Wolfson                                               Phoenix, AZ, USA

Download my app:  "Droid Of The Day" from the Android Market
-Handpicked Android Apps delivered to your notification bar daily-
***************************************************************************

[pdnm...@gmail.com]

I see I'm still trying to learn the code of java and javascript and database+php/mysql driven web apps. LoL so its going to be a while for me unless there's a cook book that has tutorials directly to make web and mobile apps in reference to the code languages so that I can learn as I build. I went to that first android meeting with eclipse and that's all I got so far. Although I have that book java head start.

Paul-

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

---

From: Michael Wolfson <mwol...@gmail.com>

Sender: phoeni...@googlegroups.com

Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 12:11:04 -0700

To: <phoeni...@googlegroups.com>

ReplyTo: phoeni...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: Source for cheap used Android phones