The competition is aimed at encouraging C&W's 1.1 million land-based and cellular customers to talk with 10 customers standing to gain $1 each, just by talking on their phone.

"Customers who make phone calls totalling at least $100 minutes during the promotional period will automatically be entered for the $1 million jackpot prize," explained C&W in a release.  Winners will be randomly selected and announced publicly on Christmas day.

But in this year's round of pre-Christmas give-aways, it was rival cellular service provider, MiPhone that went on the market first with its promotion.

MiPhone has promised to double a customer's credit, if the credit is added on the first Wednesday of each month.  Rival provider Digicel has made free credit a little more permanent part of its marketing - having earlier this year began providing its customers with $100 free credit for each month to be extended for 12 months.

But C&W is the first so far to offer cash prize.  The prize will be equally divided among the 10 winners.  Five land-line customers will get $1 million each, and five customers on its newer bmobile cell network will also get $1 million each.

The promotional period began Monday and will end on December 22.  It is open to new and existing customers.

C&W, which has over 450,000 land-line customers and over 650,000 mobile customers, is also matching the promotion being done by Digicel, by offering new mobile phone customers $100 worth of free credit each month, for 12 months.

"C&W will also be keeping all of its customers in touch through January 1 with free voicemail rental and access," said the statement.  "There will be no charge to check your voicemail all season long."

The telecoms company is also offering three months free line rental to its land line and Internet customers.  On Monday it slashed its high speed Internet rates by 35 per cent.

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