In the runup to the release of Apple’s Q1 2016 earnings report Tuesday, one of the big unanswered questions was whether the iPhone could maintain its sales momentum. Q1 2015 iPhone sales hit a record 74.5 million units, and it’s possible the latest quarter’s shipments may not equal — let alone exceed — that mark. IDC has forecast of slowing sales industry-wide for 2016. The smartphone market will see the first single-digit growth year ever.

Here is what I told E-Commerce Times, “Sales of refurbished smartphones are taking off, and Apple has ventured into this area. Refurbished iPhones can be sold in price-sensitive but growing markets without any brand dilution. It could be tempting to develop a cheaper product that’s being sold utilizing a different brand name in order to win in Africa, India and Indonesia, but the better strategy is to sell refurbished iPhones.”

You can read the entire article here.