Orange have announced that all of its customers will see a price increase on their mobile tariff in January .

In what is sure to be a controversial move all customers will see their mobile bill increased by 4.34%. Orange are claiming that the increase is due to inflation , which is at a 20 year high.

Customers instincts, like ours at 3G, are likely to be that Orange can't just raise prices for a contract that's already been agreed. However, in the terms of a mobile contract the operator reserves the right to raise charges up to the RPI (retail price index).

Orange customers also won't have any rights to leave their contract because of the price inceases , so it seems that your locked into the price rises no matter what.

The next question we have to ask is whether T-Mobile and the other operators are going to follow suit and increase prices. 3G sure hopes this isn't the case as it could quite easily become a long-term habit  if becoming commonplace.