www.WirelessFederation.com/news: 3 has come up with a new way to woo prepay subscribers. The firm has set monthly line rental prices with a new £9-per-month tariff and is combined with a new six-month contract. A 3 spokesman said: ‘You see prices turn to cashback, which does not necessarily return to the customer. High prices don’t necessarily work for the industry.’ The tariff plan is dubbed as ‘the first single-digit mobile tariff in Britain’, offers 100 cross-network minutes, or 100 texts and 300 3-to-3 calls per month, free voicemail, Windows Live Messenger and Skype access. The subscribers signing up for the 18 month contract will also receive a free 3G Sony Ericsson K660i.

3 sales and Marketing Director Marc Allera said: ‘Delivering value to consumers has always been a priority, that’s why we’re the first and only mobile network to try to take the worry out of at least one bill a month with 3′s first-ever £9 tariff. The current economic climate means that we’re more committed than ever to finding ways to pass savings onto customers.’

The operator said while the move is about acquisition, it is also about retaining customers who are looking to cut their monthly expenditure.