Sprint to Allow Handset Upgrades During an Existing Contract:

USA based Sprint has launched a limited offer enabling its customers to upgrade their handsets, even if they are within their existing contract.

To participate, eligible Sprint customers can purchase a wireless phone through the Sprint Easy Pay program, paying for it in 24 monthly payments. The only cost at purchase is the down payment and applicable sales taxes. Existing Easy Pay participants can also upgrade their phone whenever they want but must first pay off their balance to receive a new phone.

Once they've upgraded and purchased their new phone through Sprint Easy Pay, Sprint customers have the option of keeping their old phone or selling it back through Sprint's Buyback program.

"With technology changing as quickly as it does, we know our customers don't want to wait a certain amount of time before they can switch to the latest and greatest phone," said Tom Roberts, Sprint senior vice president for marketing. "Now, our customers can get what they want, when they want it,"

Microsoft asks HTC to add Windows to Android phones:

MICROSOFT is talking to HTC about adding its Windows operating system to HTC’s Android-based smartphones at little or no cost, people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg. Terry Myerson, head of Microsoft’s operating systems unit, asked HTC last month to load Windows Phone as a second option on handsets with Google’s rival software. Myerson discussed cutting or eliminating the Windows licence fee to make the idea more attractive, the report said. The talks are preliminary and no decision has been made, two people said.

HTC, the first company to make both Windows and Android phones, hasn’t unveiled a new Windows-based handset since June and has no current plans to release any more, said one person. Myerson was planning to visit Asia this month and meet with senior executives at Taiwan-based HTC to discuss his proposal, according to the report.

To grow the Windows market share, Microsoft is trying to line up other new partners. CEO Steve Ballmer and other executives met with handset makers last week during a trip to Beijing, said a person with knowledge of their trip. They stressed that Microsoft wants to keep working with partners other than Nokia, and expects to be able to sign accords with some phone makers who previously have focused on Android, the report said.