Fancy upgrading to the latest smartphone or television? Most consumers would, and do, even though their current stuff works perfectly fine. Research sheds light on how some consumers justify these seemingly unnecessary purchases; by mistreating the items they already have.

The average lifespan for a smartphone in the US is about 21.7 months - but where do they go? Envelope Phone incorporates pre-paid postage into its body, so when you’re done with it, drop it into a postbox and it will go back to the manufacturer for recycling.

Smartphones are no longer just a means of communicating. They wake us up, get us from A to B and even help us find love. We’ve almost forgotten their original purpose. Text trumps voicecalls and apps trump SMS – it’s a good time to ask – what’s the future of the mobile phone?

With mounting distrust around mobile telcos – from data security concerns to fluctuating prices – The People’s Operator presents itself as an upstanding alternative to existing networks. But can the fuzzy feeling of donating to charity replace a bargain monthly deal and a shiny new handset?