NTL's "will they, won't they" bid to hook up with Virgin Mobile appears to be on again following a rash of reports that an announcement is imminent.

The terms of the deal are expected to be much the same as those floated at the beginning of the year when the cableco, which is in the process of merging its operations with Telewest, sweetened its offer for the cellco.

Two months ago Virgin Mobile confirmed that discussions with NTL "about a potential offer are ongoing" and that it would "make further announcements about these in due course".

If reports that an announcement is on the cards pan out, the enlarged group would be able to offer punters fixed line telecoms, internet, TV and mobile phone services.

This "quadruple play" of services is touted as the way forward by giving operators the chance to bundle services and customers the opportunity to receive multiple comms services on a single bill. The NTL business is also likely to rebranded under the Virgin brand. ®

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• NTL:Telewest scores with Virgin (4 July 2006)
• NTL confirms Virgin Mobile buy-out (4 April 2006)
• Virgin Mobile heads for France (3 April 2006)
• Virgin Mobile to ink mobile TV deal with BT (13 February 2006)
• NTL trials 100Mb broadband (10 February 2006)
• Virgin Mobile takeover talks with NTL 'ongoing' (1 February 2006)
• Europe to embrace triple play (25 January 2006)
• 'Clear demand' for mobile TV, says O2 (18 January 2006)
• NTL / Virgin Mobile deal inches forward (17 January 2006)
• NTL ups bid for Virgin (16 January 2006)
• Stakes raised in NTL - Virgin Mobile bid talks (9 January 2006)
• Cellco staff muddled by own tariffs (6 January 2006)
• NTL rejigs senior management (15 December 2005)
• Branson ready to break Virgin Mobile/NTL stalemate (12 December 2005)
• NTL stands by £817m bid for Virgin Mobile (9 December 2005)