Microsoft is to kick off a new promotion dubbed “timetoswitch” in select stores in the U.S. and Canada on Friday, giving out cash points at a minimum of $200 that can be used to buy their own products in exchange for a used iPhone 4S or 5, Forbes reported on Tuesday.

Citing Microsoft sources, Forbes predicted marginal success, saying, “the trade-in campaign may be a little too late,” referring to millions of consumers who are “not only freshly tied to a new contract but overtly prefer the iOS platform over Windows.”  

The campaign is seen as Microsoft’s efforts to bolster its mobile OS business, which is growing despite being a latecomer after Apple and Google.

Microsoft acquired Nokia on Sept. 3 and introduced the new Surface tablet models on Monday.

By Yoon Ha-youn, Intern reporter
(yhayoun@heraldcorp.com)