At the end of last year Apple overtook sales of Android devices for the first time since 2012 . And in a bid to fuel this trend further , the Californian tech giant is reportedly planning to extend its recycling and trade-in scheme to include rival handsets . Reports claim Android , as well as BlackBerry and potentially Windows Phone customers , will be able to exchange their handsets for gift cards and credit towards Apple products . Apple is reportedly planning to extend the recycling and trade-in scheme it launched in 2013 ( pictured ) to include rival handsets . Reports claim Android , as well as BlackBerry and potentially Windows Phone customers , will be able to exchange their handsets for gift cards and credit towards an Apple product . These reports first appeared on fan site 9to5Mac and came from unnamed sources . Apple launched its iPhone Reuse and Recycle trade-in scheme in 2013 . It lets people take old handsets into a store and get credit to put towards the purchase of a new one . These handsets can be recycled online too , and Apple offers an iPad version of the scheme . The amount of credit depends on the device and its condition , and its likely that figures for Android handsets , which are typically much cheaper than Apple phones , will be low under the scheme . Apple has not confirmed these plans but the report said the scheme could roll out 'in the coming weeks . ' The latest smartphone sales data show that Apple ’ s share of sales grew last year thanks to the iPhone 6 ( left ) . Samsung will be hoping to claw some of this back with its Galaxy S6 ( right ) The latest smartphone sales data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech show that Apple ’ s share of sales grew across the US , Europe and China during the fourth quarter of 2014 . In the US , Apple iOS overtook Android for the first time since 2012 albeit by 0.1 % . Across Europe , Android ’ s share declined by 3.8 % year-on-year to 66.1 per cent while iOS rose by 6.2 % . The UK had the biggest impact on the decline as iOS grew its share by 13.1 % compared to this time last year with Samsung , LG and Sony all losing market share year-on-year . Apple has not confirmed these plans , but the report continued employees in stores are being trained on the changes now and the scheme could roll out 'in the coming weeks . ' The latest smartphone sales data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech show that Apple ’ s share of sales grew across the US , Europe and China during the fourth quarter of 2014 . In the US , Apple iOS overtook Android for the first time since the same period in 2012 albeit by 0.1 per cent . Notably , the iPhone 6 was the best-selling smartphone in the US , with Samsung in second place with is Galaxy S5 . Across Europe , Android ’ s share declined by 3.8 per cent year-on-year to 66.1 per cent while iOS rose by 6.2 per cent . The UK had the biggest impact on the decline as iOS grew its share of sales by 13.1 per cent compared to this time last year , . Samsung , LG and Sony all losing market share year-on-year . Explore smartphone market share data using the interactive graphic below .
Apple launched its iPhone Reuse and Recycle trade-in scheme in 2013 . It gives Apple credit to put towards the purchase of a new device . Sources said Apple will soon accept non-iOS devices on this program . This includes Android , Windows Phone and BlackBerry handsets . Employees are being trained in the changes now and the scheme is expected to launch 'in the coming weeks '