Rumour has it that Virgin Mobile and NTL are in merger talks.  Virgin Mobile is  largely UK-based Virtual Mobile Network Operator that's recently been looking to expand abroad, and has recently been linked with buying the UK's Phones4U mobile phone retailer.  NTL, meanwhile, is a UK cable TV operator that recently bought its main rival, Telewest for $6 billion.

 

A merger between Virgin Mobile and NTL would create a communications company with fingers in many pies, but the synergy between the two may be problematic: Virgin traditionally trades on the strength of its brand and its customer service (which, I can confirm personally, is extremely good); NTL, meanwhile, is notorious in the UK for having truly apalling customer service.  Indeed, I recently switched to NTL's cable TV service, and was asked by the TV installation man "are you sure you want to do this?"! Time will tell what a Virgin/NTL company will be like. Let's just hope Virgin can teach NTL a thing or two.