Virgin joins unmetered bandwagon

Virgin today launched an unmetered internet access service but has initially restricted the offering to current Virgin Net subscribers.

Stop-The-Clock, which will provide unlimited internet access for a flat fee of £15 a month, is launching today as a trial for 10,000 existing Virgin Net subscribers. Non-Virgin Net subscribers can register for the service today but a national roll-out is not planned until July.

"We will deliver free internet access 24 x 7 with a single, flat monthly fee with no hidden costs," said Alex Heath, managing director at Virgin Net. "This package will deliver a commercially profitable, high quality and consumer friendly internet package," he said.

Virgin said Stop-The-Clock is the first of a number of innovative access and communication products to be unveiled over the next few months.

Consumers have been inundated with unmetered internet access offers from telecoms, internet service providers (ISPs) and content companies since AltaVista launched its service in early March.

Yesterday, NTL launched its TV-internet service, enabling consumers without a PC to have unmetered internet access via their TV set. Last week, the company also launched ntlworld, an unlimited internet access package for PC users.

ISP World Online also launched last week what it described as the best package on the market - Freedom 24 - offering free internet access and free unlimited internet calls. Users must pay a £20 start-up fee, switch telco to World Online Telecom and pay a monthly phone line rental of £14.99.