Cablevision is one of the largest cable operators in the country, and the company has started offering phone service in addition to high-speed Internet and traditional cable service. So, if you sign up for cable and Internet service, the company will throw in unlimited long distance and local service for free for a year! That is a great deal, especially now that the Supreme Court recently gave monopoly phone companies the chance to dominate the business. The cablevision phone service is similar to what Vonage offers. Both are VOIP (virtual online internet protocol) services, meaning the phone service takes place over the Internet. The day may come when children have no idea what a dial tone is. All of our phone calls may be made over the Internet in the near future. If you like trying new things, you will benefit from these technological advances. If you are adverse to change, you will get hit in the wallet.