The UK company said pre-tax profits before exceptional items jumped 69% to �20.3m, beating analysts' forecasts of between �18m and �19m.

Carphone Warehouse also said it planned to create around 1,000 new jobs worldwide over the coming 12 months through the opening of new stores and a call centre in Warrington.

The company added that it was looking forward to strong sales in the Christmas holiday season.

'Promising' outlook

Chief executive Charles Dunstone said the complexity of mobile tariffs and the influx of new phones onto the market was boosting business.

"The increased competition between mobile networks and the flow of new handsets and other mobile devices, combined with continuously changing tariffs, are reinforcing the customer's need for impartial advice," he said.

"The outlook for the group is very promising," he added.

"The competitive environment... is playing to our strengths, and we are looking forward to a good trading period over Christmas and the new year."

Expansion

Carphone Warehouse currently operates about 500 stores in the UK and has about another 600 stores in the rest of Europe.

It said it planned to open a further 100 stores over the coming 12 months, with about half of the new outlets opening in the UK.

The firm is also opening a call centre in Warrington in the north west of England.

The move bucks the recent trend by UK companies of opening call centres in India to take advantage of cheap labour costs.