While Apple reports record first weekend sales after launching the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, Microsoft it seems is running around trying convince folks to ditch their iPhone and jump to a Windows Phone. No, really. After a similar promotion where Microsoft stores would accept an iPad in trade in against a Windows 8 tablet, Forbes reports the folks from Redmond are to begin accepting iPhones as well:
According to an inside source at Microsoft, Microsoft Stores will begin giving a minimum $200 in-store credit for iPhones on Friday as part of its “#timetoswitch” campaign, obviously hoping consumers will use the cash to buy a Windows Phone.
On the one hand, you can't blame them for trying. There's a bunch of iPhone 4 and 4s owners out there who might be eying up something newer, shinier and with a little more junk in the trunk, that might not feel they can stretch to a new iPhone 5s. But, it reeks quite a lot of Microsoft trying to buy customers, rather than concentrating more on selling the value of Windows Phone as a platform.
The in-store credit could also be used towards another Microsoft device – perhaps a Surface 2 – but the iPhone trade-in program will reportedly be called "#timetoswitch," so it's clear where the true intentions lie. I just can't help but feel it's a shallow attempt at wooing customers who may ultimately end up disappointed. There's plenty to like about Windows Phone – I'm quite fond of my own Lumia 920 – so surely Microsoft would be better served marketing the heck out of it and advertising its strengths, than simply blindly buying customers?
The question remains; Anyone out there interested in trading in their iPhone for a Windows Phone? Anybody?
Source: Forbes via Windows Phone Central