In June, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude published a package of reforms to the civil service, including plans for putting the bottom 10% of staff on probation and fired after a year if they fail to improve and ministers being given the power to choose who runs departments.

BBC: David Cameron

The set-top boxes will be sold either on a stand-alone basis, or as part of a package provided by internet service providers.

BBC: Project Canvas to become YouView

It was considered part of their full-service package.

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BSkyB and ESPN are favourites to each snap up one package of 23 games, though they may face competition from digital pay-tv service, Top-Up TV.

BBC: BT Vision stops selling Setanta

Email has decreased the mailing of paper letters, but online purchases have increased package shipping, forcing the Postal Service to adjust to customers' new habits.

WSJ: Goodbye Saturday mail? Postal Service plans cuts

In turn, the utility can offer its ratepayers a package of some two dozen consumer services, including Internet access, appliance protection, satellite television, long-distance telephone service, carbon-monoxide protection and security.

ECONOMIST: Electricity marketing: Not as billed | The