Meanwhile Virgin is launching its first cloud-based services to business customers as part of a drive to double revenues from its enterprise division in the next five years. Virgin said it would “shake up” the cloud computing market with easy-to-use technology and clear advice. The cloud itself is often a cause for confusion for consumers and companies, although it is in effect a service that can provide IT systems such as storage, software and processing from a remote place over a network.

Virgin will offer its business customers cloud computing through a virtual private data centre (VPDC), which can be set up and rolled out within two hours. The technology behind the Virgin launch will be provided by Savvis, a US web hosting and service provider.

There are similar cloud services being offered by rivals such as BT and Cable & Wireless. Virgin said this would be a challenge to competitors “that have brought unnecessary confusion to the cloud”.

Mark Heraghty, managing director of Virgin Media Business, said: “Organisations are craving some clarity and no-nonsense advice. Providing easy-to-use, simple cloud services that do exactly what they say they’ll do is a breath of fresh air. Most are already signed up to the benefits of the cloud, but constant jargon and complicated advice have created a real barrier to entry.”

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