If you been following our long-term television services review on Absolute Gadget, you would know that the V-box provided with BT Vision ain't all that. So it comes as a pleasent surprise to hear that set-top box experts Pace are to make the next-generation of boxes and it looks like they'll be high-def too.

Pace recently took over the set-top box division of Royal Philips Electronics, which made the last lot (we won't be shedding any tears) and the new boxes will be HD-capable, record around 80 hours of telly as well as show all the Freeview television and radio channels.

The latest version of the V-Box also features a new design, improved energy efficiency and a more powerful processor to power more advanced interactive applications (and hopefully make the user interface not run like treacle).

Dan Marks, BT Vision CEO said: "We are very pleased to announce this contract, working with the team that launched the first-generation V-Box. Our medium-term goal is to secure two to three million subscribers for our BT Vision service and we are looking forward to making this vision a reality in co-operation with Pace."

"The hybrid model of providing the latest interactive services, alongside digital terrestrial programming, is a very compelling one," said Neil Gaydon, Chief Executive Officer of Pace. "We are excited to be working with BT to bring this advanced product to market."

Apparently the boxes will be available in 2009. We wish they'd be around sooner!

The next version of the BT Vision box will offer high-def