Comcast Now No. 3 Home Phone Provider

Comcast claims it's now the third-biggest residential phone services in America with 6.47 million voice customers, behind only AT&T and Verizon.

As of the fourth quarter 2008, Comcast reported 6.47 million residential phone customers throughout its 39-state service area.

Qwest Communications International, the third-largest telco, ended the year with 5.961 million primary consumer lines. While Qwest reported another 543,000 "consumer additional lines," Comcast noted that those are second or third lines which would not change the overall number of residential customers.

"Consumers are switching to Comcast's Digital Voice Service because of our low prices, reliable service and innovative features," Cathy Avgiris, Comcast senior vice president and general manager of voice services, said in a statement. "Comcast Digital Voice is reinventing home phone service for the 21st century and we are thrilled that millions of consumers today are choosing Comcast for home phone service."