Assurant announced the expansion of its partnership with the Telefonica Group to provide a comprehensive trade-in program, which will include on-device app and web browser based diagnostics, trade-in services, and device pricing analytics across all their distribution channels — owned stores, dealers, online channel and third-party dealers. Telefonica will provide access to trade-in services for smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearables and hearables using Assurant’s patented proprietary platform, which features remote on device app- and web browser-based diagnostics and trade-in transaction management. Following Assurant’s acquisition of HYLA Mobile, a leading provider of smartphone software, trade-in and upgrade services, Telefonica will access advanced, market-leading trade-in technology. Assurant will partner with Telefonica across its geographical footprint, including its strategic markets in Spain, UK, Germany and Brazil, where Telefonica is a market leader. Telefonica serves more than 360 million customers around the world. Trade-in programs help consumers by putting money back in their pockets in exchange for their used devices, benefit wireless providers by increasing customer retention and reduce environmental impact by keeping millions of used phones out of landfills. In 2020 alone, Assurant recycled approximately 1.5 million phones, resulting in the recovery of an estimated 23,815 kilos of copper, 525 kilos of silver, 51 kilos of gold and 22 kilos of palladium. These precious metals were kept from being discarded in landfills and helped to reduce the need for new mining of materials.