# Donating a mobile phone
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-a-mobile-phone/287695
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 1, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-a-mobile-phone/287695 "2005-02-01T00:43:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-a-mobile-phone/287695/1 "2005-02-01T00:43:36Z")
I have an old Nokia 2160 mobile phone from about 1998. I have no use for it, and I’m not sure if the battery will hold a charge – or if new batteries are even available for it.
ISTR a thread from a couple of years ago that suggested donating disused mobile phones to a women’s shelter. Is that still a viable option? For this phone?
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-a-mobile-phone/287695/2 "2005-02-01T01:37:26Z")
Yeah, as long as some of the cell sites will still pick up an analog transmission. I plugged in my big old Motorola brick the other day just for kicks and was shocked to get a clear signal telling me I had no service and to contact blah, blah, blah.
Another use for it is to give to a lady friend as an emergency 911 phone for their car in case of breakdowns etc if they have no phone (or forget it).
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-a-mobile-phone/287695/3 "2005-02-01T01:41:00Z")
> [@astro](#):
>
> Another use for it is to give to a lady friend as an emergency 911 phone for their car in case of breakdowns etc if they have no phone (or forget it).
I think that was the reason in the other thread that women’s shelters were suggested; so that women who may be at risk would have emergency communications.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-a-mobile-phone/287695/4 "2005-02-01T15:30:40Z")
Just checked. The battery is not holding a charge.
Question: The phone still has my old L.A. phone number programmed into it. It’s been over a year since it was valid. Assuming that this phone can be donated and a battery is available, does that matter? That is, will the old phone number cause me to get a bill if the phone is used?
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### Author:  [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-a-mobile-phone/287695/5 "2005-02-01T16:11:37Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#):
>
> Just checked. The battery is not holding a charge.
>
> Question: The phone still has my old L.A. phone number programmed into it. It’s been over a year since it was valid. Assuming that this phone can be donated and a battery is available, does that matter? That is, will the old phone number cause me to get a bill if the phone is used?
Dial the number and see if anyone answers. Chances are it’s been reassigned.
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-a-mobile-phone/287695/6 "2005-02-01T17:10:56Z")
Verizon stores will accept phones from any carrier and any maker. “Good” phones get cleaned up, new numbers and distributed to victims of domestic violence. “Bad” phones will at least be safely recycled.
I believe Radio Shack stores will also accept donated phones.