Both companies confirmed that, in the event of the merger proceeding as planned, all new and existing contract customers of Vodafone and 3 will be able to enjoy the same great value offered on all existing Vodafone and 3 mobile voice and data plans for the next 2 years.
The companies said their respective approaches to mobile phone and mobile broadband pricing, which allow customers to acquire devices for $0 on 24-month contracts, will remain in place.
The plan to retain existing plans relates to all 24-month contract plans on offer to new customers by Vodafone Australia and 3 as at 25 May 2009 and refers to the charges and volumes for voice, data and content services included in any contract cap or plan.
These 'plans' includes those available to contract business and retail customers, although this excludes special offers in market that are identified as being available for a limited time, and also excludes special pricing for managed business accounts.
Nigel Dews, CEO of 3 and proposed CEO of VHA, said it was happy to reassure its customers with a public commitment that if the merger proceeds as intended, no plan will be withdrawn from the market for the next two years.
"During this time we will also be introducing new offers and services to appeal to new customers," he said.
"We plan to draw on the best offerings of Vodafone and 3 and will continue to provide innovative consumer and business services to the Australian market.
"For competitive reasons we will not telegraph our full roadmap of handset and mobile broadband products and prices, but VHA will certainly introduce new offers into the market to acquire new customers."
In February 2009 Vodafone Australia and Hutchison 3G Australia Pty announced a proposal to combine its mobile operations to create a new, more effective competitor in the Australian communication market, to be called Vodafone Hutchison Australia ('VHA'), subject to regulatory clearance.
Issue: 277 | March, 2010