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Microsoft's $200 iPhone trade-in program goes live

Just in time for the holidays, the company will buy your used iPhone 4S or iPhone 5, in the hopes of getting customers to pick up a Windows Phone.

Richard Nieva Former senior reporter
Richard Nieva was a senior reporter for CNET News, focusing on Google and Yahoo. He previously worked for PandoDaily and Fortune Magazine, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, on CNNMoney.com and on CJR.org.
Richard Nieva
Josh Miller/CNET
Microsoft wants to pay for your old iPhone.

After reports earlier this week of Microsoft offering at least $200 in credit for customers' used iPhones, the deal is now official.

The deal is only good for newer-model iPhones -- the 4S and 5, in "gently used" condition -- and is an expansion of an existing promotion that lets customers trade in their iPads for a $200 minimum gift card. That deal runs until October 27.

The new promotion will run at Microsoft stores until November 3, an obvious attempt to lure iPhone users to the Windows Phone camp just before the holidays -- although the credit, in the form of a gift card, will be good for anything in the store.