PNC originally agreed to pay the former KJC founders an initial 30 million for the chain of KJC mobile phone shops in April 2000 giving them 15 million each. This 15 million was made up of 7.5 million cash and 2.9 million shares which were worth a total of 7.5 million.

Ridge and Case were due a further deferred payment based on KJC profits from for the year to July 10 2001. The deferred payment limited to 32.5 million was calculated as 10 times KJC profits less 30000000. (Cont P2)

Ridge and Case claim PNC failed to produce a statement of profits for KJC to determine the outstanding claim.

They estimate KJC made 4.3 million profit. If true this would entitle them to 13 million (based on the shares being an agreed 2.80 each). But PNC says KJC did not make more than 3 million profit because of irrecoverable commission payments. PNC wrote to Ridge and Case to say restated profits would reduce to under 3 million Therefore the deferred consideration falls to nil.

Case and Ridge sent accountants to PNCs auditors RSM Robson Rhodes who said they only had limited information and could not guarantee the figures could verify their claim.

Case and Ridge then demanded full access to PNCs accounts. Ridge said PNC failed to provide this information and is in breach of contract. The figure stands at around 36.5 million plus interest of 7000 per day.

PNC chief executive Ian Gray said

I agree the company should have produced a statement of profits back in July 2001. The responsibility for that was with Darren Ridge who was chief executive at the time. As a result we are petitioning for them to become co-defendants with us in this action said Gray.

Ridge replied: I was precluded from involvement by the firms auditors. It would have been akin to letting me write out a blank cheque. There was a clear conflict of interests. I was not allowed to produce those figures.

Gray maintains that PNC wont lose even if the courts rule in Case and Ridges favour.

We can pay them in shares. The value of those shares is now 5p each. We would owe them thousands rather than millions.

As co-defendants they would have to pay part costs. They wouldnt be left with much even if they won concluded Gray.

Perfect Fit for Business price plans which will be available from today (Monday) offer business users options such as free calls to company mobiles free calls back to office landlines shared inclusive minutes and simple flat-rate call charges.

In addition businesses now have the option to make free calls between company mobiles on the same price plan while companies on 24-month Sharetime or Company Caller contracts will get free mobile-to-office calls to a maximum of five company-owned landlines (PSTN numbers). This will provide access to up to 250 direct dial numbers.

Vodafone senior business propositions manager Ben Sefton told Mobile News that the new tariffs will suit companies from one-man bands right up to those with up to 250 employees.

The small business is unique. It is very different from larger corporations and certainly different from consumers. Small firms (Cont P2) represent a key part of our customer base and we are trying to give them better value.

Sefton admits that previous tariffs had left small businesses out in the cold. In January 2002 Vodafone launched cheap calls between companies and in May last year it launched Perfect Fit which was primarily a consumer proposition.

We have spent the past year doing a lot of research to find out the needs of this sector and create tariffs that meet those needs.

Perfect Fit for Business is made up of four tariffs and their variants.

The first Sharetime 750 1250 2500 5000 and 8000 gives customers inclusive minutes and free calls across a group of mobiles.

Added benefits include up to 60 per cent savings on international calls and the ability to carry over unused minutes to the next month. Customers will also get free calls to office landlines when taking out a two-year contract.

Company Caller is a simple line rental with no inclusive minutes that provides free calls between company mobiles on the same price plan. It also includes free calls to office landlines if a business takes out a two-year contract.

Anytime 200 400 and 1000 allow businesses to choose the minutes they need for each individual mobile.

The plans include calls to any network at any time and the ability to carry over unused minutes to the next month. With Anytime 1000 customers will also save up to 60 per cent with free International Call Saver.

The fourth is Business Caller – a price plan with basic line rental and no inclusive minutes.

Sefton went on: Today with many people working out of the office or off-site it is vital to be able to communicate regularly with colleagues whenever and wherever they happen to be working. We believe that businesses are typically making around 25 per cent to 40 per cent of their phone calls to their colleagues or to the office.

All the new plans will offer the ability to change within Perfect Fit for Business price plans after the first four months free e-mail bill management tools on request at least 50 per cent savings available on data bundles and a 10 per cent saving on the monthly line rental charge by taking out a two-year contract.

We understand that smaller businesses must adapt towards a more flexible working environment to enable them to compete with larger organisations Sefton concluded. The Perfect Fit for Business price plans are at the heart of our continuing commitment to deliver the best possible value to SMEs.

Yes Telecom managing director Keith Curran declined to disclose the purchase price or subscriber numbers but said the move was an excellent fit moving forward for both companies and would allow Yes Telecom to support and develop voice customers.

We are both service providers so we knew each other well. The deal started as a general conversation about strategy. It became obvious there were advantages of working together said Curran.

The deal allows us to continue to acquire and support high-quality subscribers. Thales can continue in the data market. (Cont P2)

Curran said that the deal would not affect Yes Telecoms primary goal of working with its dealer business partners.

He said the acquisition would not affect the management structure of Yes Telecom and more customer service staff would be hired to handle the increased voice base.

I have hired two new people and will take on several more over the next few weeks said Curran.

Yes and Thales have been talking for some time about the sale of the voice database.

Chessington-based Thales used to be run by Edward Belgeonne who spun the business off from the old European Telecom when it was known as Orchid.

Belgeonne left Thales last September and was replaced by Frenchman Jean-Louis Moraud.

The company specialises in the development and marketing of mobile data applications and vehicle telematics such as location-based services. It intends to confine itself to this area from now on.

In his statement announcing results for last year Li said although committed to develop manufacture and deliver a significantly-enhanced second generation of 3G handsets for sale during the second quarter suppliers only made limited deliveries seriously impairing the Groups ability to increase its customer base in the fourth quarter of 2003.

This issue has been resolved early this year. The Groups suppliers commenced delivery on new handset models in commercial quantities as a result of which sales have progressed very well.

Currently the Group has over 1038000 customers worldwide with approximately 361000 in the UK 453000 in Italy and 36500 in Hong Kong.

Li also revealed that 3 has added 151000 UK customers since December 12 2003 giving it a current total customer base of 361000

He said that 3 has maintained a high monthly ARPU of 45 and that 3 in the UK now has over 75 per cent population coverage for video mobile services and 99 per cent per for voice and text 3 products and services are now available in over 3200 shops across the UK

But playing the 3G game has cost Li and Hutchison Whampoa dearly so far. Last year it made a net loss of 130 million on its 3G operations around the world from turnover of 142 million.

The technology network infrastructure and distribution channels are all firmly developed and the Group is now focusing on sales and operations. The number of 3G subscribers is now expected to grow satisfactorily Li concluded.

The 199 T-Mobile Communications Centre packaged with a Multimedia Net Card will be available to corporate and small business clients from April with full commercial launch during May.

The package which costs 70 a month for unllimited data access includes software dual GPRS/3G plug-in card for laptop and user manuals.

The package wll be sold by T-Mobiles direct sales force.

Our vision is the creation of a multi-speed multi-media network that integrates 2G 3G and WLAN. The launch of the Communications Centre is the next stage in the fulfilment of that vision said T-Mobile managing director Brian McBride.

By enabling business customers to work remotely at speeds similar to broadband we are moving a step closer to seamless mobile working.

The T-Mobile announcement follows the launch last month by Vodafone of its 3G data card for laptops.

(See interview P8)

Dixons bought Genesis two years ago for 31 million from founder Brian Kennedy when it had around 120000 subscribers on both O2 and Vodafone.

Mobile News has learned that Vodafone may now be seeking a closer alliance with Genesis which has been a prime source of business connections to O2.

Ive heard that something is going on. It could be an outright takeover or just putting together a commercial package confided a top manager at one service provider.

These things tend to be discussed secretly at board level for months. Remember Vodafones talks with Singlepoint started a year before the press got wind of it.

The director of another telecoms group said he had also heard that Vodafone was considering Genesis and that he knew some people within Vodafone were asking whether anything was afoot with the SP.

A move by Vodafone on Genesis would be logical to overcome O2s close ties with Dixons mobile retail arm The Link he commented.

Another theory was that Dixons would not sell Genesis. This was because it was committed to maintaining an in-house service provider to leverage connections from small business customers purchasing mobile data applications from its PC World computer retail division.

Dixons wants people to go into PC World to buy their computers and mobile data cards and connect them on the spot he added.

No one at Vodafone was available for comment. A Dixons Stores Group spokesperson said:

We havent heard anything and dont believe theres any substance to the rumour.

The promotion offered an Orange voucher for a free Siemens A55 pre-pay phone or Samsung A300 on contract to customers who spent 15 or more on Avon Anew skin care.

But Avon only had a limited number of vouchers from Orange. The shortfall has led to complaints to trading standards offices from disgruntled consumers.

Avon claimed it had done nothing wrong.

We anticipated that this would be a popular offer and secured a level of vouchers consistent with our experience of previous customer promotions said a spokesperson.

The offer is subject to availability and certain terms and conditions stated in the brochure. These terms and conditions were clearly communicated to both representatives and customers. This offer has been enormously successful. It has created demand from Avon customers which has unfortunately exceeded the number of vouchers available.

But even people with a voucher are finding it difficult to get hold of a promised handset. Avon customers have been taking their vouchers to Orange shops only to find that the phones are out of stock. (cont P2)

Orange also blamed the shortfall on the fact that the offer was more popular than expected.

We ran the promotion with Avon as a way of acquiring new customers said an Orange spokeswoman. The promotion has been very popular and exceeded our expectations which in turn led to a limited number of customers experiencing a delay in being able to collect their handset.

She went on: Orange shops that are out of stock of the Siemens A55 or Nokia 6100 are meeting the demand with handsets of equivalent value where possible. Shops that cant supply an equivalent handset are taking customers details and will contact them when stock arrives. As long as the voucher is presented before April 30 they will be honoured. We regret any inconvenience caused to customers.

Until last week 3 dealers foundmost customers were passing credit checks – even those who had failed with other networks. Then 3s customer credit checks became more stringent than those of rival networks.

Dealers with 3 stock on order say the change in policy could have serious financial implications for them.

European Telecom has already warned its dealers to be aware of the changes in 3s credit-scoring. European Telecom managing director John Drinkwater said:

We are aware of the changes in 3s credit-checking policy. It does look like its tightening its belt. As 3 signs more customers and it gains experience with its customer base it is something one would expect.

It doesnt cause us grave concern at present. We have warned our independent dealers of the development but we havent had any negative feedback from them yet.

If we did start to receive complaints from the dealers we would look to protect our independent dealers and address the situation.

Mark Whitaker at Findaphone in Accrington said: 3 could be tightening its credit checks for two reasons – either it has good sales and is looking to consolidate and weed out less valuable customers or it is suffering a lot of fraud and cant handle it.

Matt Chambers of The Phone Shop in Kent is more concerned.

It is worrying he said. We ordered 10 400 NEC handsets based on the connections we did when customers were passing 3s credit checks. We face losing a lot of money if people fail the credit checks and the kit becomes dead stock.

Five of Chambers customers failed 3s credit-checking process last week Two were regular customers and the other was an existing client on another network.

3s credit scoring is erratic he claimed. Three weeks ago just about everyone was passing 3s credit checks. It was accepting a lot of bad payers. People who failed on Vodafone Orange and T-Mobile could sail through on a 3 credit-check. Now 3 has started failing customers who would pass other networks credit checks.

Chambers went on: Last week a business customer wanted to connect eight phones. Vodafone and his existing networks were all glad to have him. But he failed his credit check on 3. It wanted a 150 deposit for each phone to sign him on to a 3 contract.

3 admitted its credit policy was subject to constant refinement. But the network denied that it had made its credit checks more stringent claiming it had simply adjusted its scoring policy to match that of others.

There is more centralised credit control than previously. So we have made the system more efficient and brought it in line with the industry standard said a 3 spokesperson.

Were a young company. The processes are constantly looked at and adjusted. A huge amount of work has been done on our back-office systems including credit control.

We target the top 65 per cent of the market. Our VideoTalk 500 and 750 plans are the most popular packages and customers who have good credit ratings will go for them. (Cont P2)

Customers who now fail 3s credit checks have to pay a deposit of 150 to get a contract with the network or else they are directed to the ThreePay pre-pay tariff for which no credit-check is required.

Recently however Chambers says that customers who are prepared to pay the 150 deposit have been asked to stump up 250 despite the fact that 3 informs the dealer in writing that only 150 is required.

In the past week customers have been ready to pay the deposit only to find out it has suddenly increased to 250. They have refused to pay the increased amount he said.

3 denied this was the case.

There is no way a customer that has been asked to pay a 150 deposit would be asked to pay 250 instead said a 3 spokesperson.

The 150 deposit is standard. The only possible explanation is that the customer wanted extra roaming services on the phone. In that case the deposit could theoretically increase he said.

None of Chambers customers wanted such a service.

Stuart Baillie of Baillies Telecom Howard Place Stoke-on-Trent was arrested on April 14 and charged with money laundering and conspiracy to cheat the revenue according to a statement from HM Customs and Excise. He is on conditional bail.

The figure were looking at is 26 million a Customs and Excise spokeswoman told Mobile News.

After the six-month free period ends customers are then automatically switched to 5-a-month billing for free weekend calling if they are on Anytime 30 Anytime 100 Anytime 200 or Anytime 400.

Existing Vodafone customers on selected tariffs are also eligible to sign up for the free weekend calls offer but must commit to a new 12-month contract term.

This offer gives Vodafone customers free weekend calls so they can call as much as they like at the weekend without using up their Anytime minutes said a Vodafone spokesperson.

Customers can use their mobile instead of the landline to chat at the weekends wherever they are. It brings consumers even better value on top of Perfect Fit tariffs to suit their calling patterns.