Microsoft is continuing its aggressive attempt to beat competitor Apple by expanding its trade-in programme for old Apple devices in exchange for vouchers that could be used to buy new Microsoft gadgets.

On Friday, Sept 27, Microsoft started accepting old iPhones for a $200 voucher that could be used for purchasing, hopefully, a Windows Phone. The deal is part of Microsoft's Time to Switch Campaign, Maximum PC quoted Forbes which based the news on a leak from a Microsoft source.

A few days back, Microsoft offered to trade in old iPads in exchange for a $200 voucher, which it eventually upped to $350, to be used for buying Surface tablets. The marketing strategy was launched to rid Microsoft of its huge inventory of older Surface RT and Surface Pro models as well as encourage the purchase of its Surface 2 and Surface 2 tablets that Microsoft unboxed on Monday.

The promo also comes close on the heels of the availability of the new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C in U.S. and UK retail outlets as well as the iOS 7. Apple had claimed that in three days, it broke records and sold 9 million units of the two new smartphones, although it did not clarify if the number refers to shipment of the gadgets to the retail outlets or actual store sales to buyers.

Apple also has a trade-in programme of its own for older iPhone units to encourage users to upgrade to the newer models.

Maximum PC noted that while owners of older iPhone models have the option of selling their gadgets on eBay or Craigslist, the Microsoft offer is not a bad one since it is assured money and the seller avoids the chance of non-paying bidders, problems with buyer or seller fees.

Users of older Surface tablets are clamouring for Microsoft to include these devices in the trade-in programme. Would owners of Windows phone also ask for inclusion of their mobile units in the expanded programme?

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