Virgin Media VIP Standard

• Free V+ set top box and over 165 digital TV channels
• Unlimited landline phonecalls
• Blisteringly fast 20Mb unlimited broadband
• Includes line rental

Virgin Media broadband review: VIP

IF Richard Branson does indeed use his own products when he is not flouncing around in space stroking his little beard, then he surely uses the Virgin Media VIP Complete. As they say, it's the works.

XL, XL and XL

Sure, you pay the same as a small mortgage for it, but boy, what a package - it has more XL's than a t-shirt shop on a cruise ship!

You'll get Virgin Media's 20Mb Broadband Size XL, Phone Size XL and TV Size XL plus a HD box, an additional set-top box and the Sky sports and movies channels.

20Mb broadband

The Virgin Media Broadband XL package gives you speeds of up to 20Mb with no download limits as well as email, webspace and a very good security suite.

Since this is a cable package there is a one off £30 setup fee, but remember that line rental is included, so you'll effectively be saving yourself £11.54 a month off the bat.

The home phone size XL package gives you unlimited calls to UK landlines at any time. You also get Virgin's reduced rate Talk International and Talk Mobile offers which give much cheaper rates to international landlines and UK mobiles respectively.

Full frontal TV

The included Virgin Media XL TV package is full-frontal full monty - and then some!

You get Virgin Central (Virgin's very cool, on-demand TV channel), Sky 1 and Sky 2 (along with a host of other Sky TV packages) as well as 145 digital channels including Setanta Sports 1 and 2.

Virgin Media TV is the only TV provider that offers the BBC iPlayer on your TV set so you can catch up on the last week's TV whenever you like.

You also get access to Sky Sports & Movies premium channel and Virgin's Sky+-beating V+ box.

Is it worth it?

If you bought broadband XL, phone XL and TV XL services in a bundle that would set you back just £47 a month but pile on the extras that come with VIP and that soon rises to £95 a month.

So if you're getting these services separately at the moment you'd save £16.50 a month - £198 a year - by switching to VIP. The only downside is that you can't chop and change the services that you want.

Nothing comes close

If you can afford the Virgin Media VIP Complete we can honestly say that no bundle on the market even comes close.

And with Virgin Media's vastly improved customer service and line stability, we can recommend it heartily and still look your in the eye.

A little more detail...

Broadband		Special Note...
Package:	Size: XL	-
Connection:	Cable	-
Max Speed:	Up to 20Mb
Usage Limit:	Unlimited	Fair use policy applies
Totally Unlimited:	No
Hardware:	Wireless Router	-
Internet Security:	Included free	PCGuard Total package (which includes PCguard features as well as extra Anti-Spyware, Identify Theft Protection and Parental Control features)
Online Gaming:	All major consoles supported

Home Phone
Package:	Size: XL
UK Weekend Tariff:	Free to UK landlines beginning 01, 02 & 03 (Re-dial before 60 minutes to avoid call charges)
UK Evening Tariff:	Free to UK landlines beginning 01, 02 & 03 (Re-dial before 60 minutes to avoid call charges)
UK Peak Tariff:	Free to UK landlines beginning 01, 02 & 03 (Re-dial before 60 minutes to avoid call charges)
International Tariff:	Lower international rates with Talk International (£1.50 per month)

TV
Package:	Virgin TV XL
Included Channels:	165 digital channels including Sky 1, 2 & 3, ESPN, Nickleodeon and Disney Channel.
Optional Channels:	Add SkyMovies and/or Sky Sports for an additional monthly fee (from £16.50)
Video on Demand:	Free TV catch-up + BBC iPlayer + more
Pay Per View:	Music vids, films and live sports events
Pause, Rewind + Record TV:	Yes with V+ HD Box (free and no monthly fee with TV XL)
Hardware:	V set-top box (free upgrade to V+ HD Box)
Extras:	-