The UK is about to see even more mobile phone shops on the high street as network operator 3 plans to triple the number of stores by the end of the year.

As part of an operation to revitalise its brand 3 is adding more than 40 stores to its current chain of 20 and is launching a major marketing campaign. 3 already has a large presence in stores like Superdrug as they are both owned by the same Hong Kong parent company.

Billions of pounds have been spent in acquiring the 3G licences in the UK and 3 is the only network that seems to be putting the 3G license to good use. Having initially gained market share through good value call plans rather than a demand for 3G services the network faces tough competition from the new T Mobile Flext tariff and other schemes.

Despite 3G having been in the UK for some years now a lot of customers are not aware of exactly how it differs to the standard 2G services. 3 believe that third party retailers on the high street are not geared up for selling 3G and may not have the time to explain all the features.

After T Mobile recently stole a huge amount of market share with the introduction of their innovative Flext tariff rumours are today circulating about a similar tariff from 3.

Since the 3 network was launched in the UK it has consistently provided good value to its customers and went to the extent of offering far more free minutes than its 2G rivals in an attempt to break into the market.

With the other networks now offering not only similar call bundles and prices, but 3G and high end features as well, 3 are once again faced with a need to introduce new offers.

Give the nature and user demographics of 3’s users it’s likely that any offer will include video calling and picture messages as well as discounts and bundles on calls and texts.

Orange has struck a lucrative deal to become the new national roaming partner for the 3 mobile phone network.

O2 were also in the running for the partnership but it is understood Orange made an offer that O2 couldn’t match. Under the new deal Orange will provide a back-up GSM service for any 3 customers who venture out of the 3G network coverage.

Orange’s head of media relations, Stuart Jackson, said that his network was looking forward to a “significant and profitable revenue stream”.

3 have been keen to point out that they are continuing to increase their own network but understand the need to customers to have a reliable back-up network as well.

Previously O2 has provided the GSM back-up in a deal worth £100m since 2003. Since 3 have expanded their network over the last few years the latest deal will be worth substantially less.

A revolutionary service that pays customers to receive calls and texts has been launched by 3, the UK’s leading mobile medi provider. This is the first time that a service like this has been launched and it certainly breaks away from the normal billing cycle.

The pay as you go service is called ‘WePay’ and allows users to be rewarded with a cash credit for all the calls and texts they receive. The reward levels are set at 2p per text received and 5p per minute for calls received and it certainly promises good results if you are popular on 3.

Cash credits are redeemed whenever a customer purchases a new WePay Top-up voucher and the credit can then be used to purchase any 3 services including buying music tracks and watching mobile TV to simple texts and calls.

A quick example shows that for a five-minute call a customer would receive credit to send a picture message or watch highlights from two episodes of Coronation Street.

The UK pre pay market is quite complcated at present and many users lose out because they do not with to be tied down to a fixed monthly contract. According to 3 this new development is part of a wider mission to transform the pre-pay market and give better value to its users. From the evidence we have seen it certainly appears to give good value!

At present UK customers have been adopting complicated strategies for minimising their top up charges. According to research as many as 5.9 million people in the UK carry more than one phone for the purpose of calling cross networks. 3 are tapping into this market and intend to pursuade people to use their services exclusively by offering a loyalty scheme.

The loyalty scheme is a good marketing tool and will certainly give good value to the customers but the true benefits of the new tariff are the low inbound and text rates and wide range of stylish handsets available.

See how much you could save and view the handsets available on 3.