Orange UK is to shake up the traditional pricing models for small and medium businesses with three new tariffs designed specifically for sole traders and SMEs. 

SMEs account for nearly half of UK employment, according to the Department of Trade and Industry, and Orange hopes to tap into this market with its Solo, Venture and Momentum packages.

Solo is aimed at sole traders and includes benefits such as Orange Care which replaces lost, stolen or faulty handsets within 24 hours and offers a choice of unlimited calls to landlines or unlimited texts.

The package also includes a promotional offer of free megabytes of data for business owners keen to explore the possibilities of mobile email and internet.

Venture is aimed at 'always-on' workers at small businesses, typically with fewer than 10 employees.

Momentum targets larger businesses and includes unlimited calls and texts between sharers to allow colleagues to communicate freely.

"We recognise that Britain's small and medium businesses are not a homogenous group, and we have developed a range of new tariffs to respond to their individual needs," said Martin Lyne, director of small business at Orange UK.

"Designed to span the work-life blur faced by many small business owners, we hope to offer a communications package that enables them to live life on their terms."

Orange said that it is planning to offer further products aimed at the small enterprise sector supported by a range of add-on 'work style' bundles later in the year.

The operator has also launched a new business advisory service in its major high street shops, as well as regional competitions in which winners receive £1,000 worth of free advertising space.