Vodafone has slashed the price of its monthly tariff for UK business customers from £30 to £15.

The operator has increased data allowances from 3GB to 5GB, and users on 24-month and 18-month contracts will get six months and three months free rental respectively.

Vodafone's popular Stick and Pebble USB modems will also be free for 18- and 24-month contracts.

A new service for customers using mobile internet on a laptop or PC every day will offer a Mobile Broadband 3GB price plan for £15 per month (including VAT).

This halves the price of the existing 3GB contract while providing download speeds of up to 7.2Mbps.

Vodafone reported strong financial figures for the three months to 31 December, announcing revenues of £9.2bn, an increase of 15.8 per cent on 2006.

"We have sustained our recent momentum in the third quarter, executing on our strategic objectives in competitive markets with over 250 million proportionate customers driving strong growth in voice usage and data revenue," said Vodafone chief executive Arun Sarin.