BT, Microsoft and Virgin to present mobile TV alliance

The service is among several developments expected to be unveiled at the Congress, as suppliers seek to capture the imagination of consumers for their often expensively acquired third-generation mobile offerings.

BT's involvement in the TV alliance should help to avoid the capacity problems that some analysts say will limit operators of 3G technology as they try to increase subscriber levels.

By the summer, customers of Virgin Mobile could receive at least five television channels direct to their handsets via a BT service, which the UK telecommunications operator has developed with Microsoft, according to reports.