In what seems like a pilot program meant to gauge public interest and cost effectiveness, Verizon Wireless recently started handing out as much as $300 in credit for used cell phones from prospective customers in some middle-America and southern states.

ZDNet caught wind of the program last month, noting that it’s only live in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Customers bring their phone to a Verizon store or kiosk, then receive a gift card that can be used on a purchase or upgrade. Engadget reports non-smartphones are good for $50 gift cards, while store representatives assign value to smartphones on the spot.

There’s no word yet on if or when the program will roll out nationwide.

South rises again with Verizon in-store trade-in program [ZDNet via Engadget]

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