Citynet introduced a new phone service that can cut in half many West Virginians' monthly phone bills.

The new Citynet Digital Phone offers residential customers both local and long-distance service for $24.95 a month using proven technology that has already benefited Citynet's business customers.

"This type of phone service has been widely available in other parts of the United States and other nations, but until now, its availability in West Virginia has been limited," Citynet President Jim Martin said. "Citynet is out to change that by making Digital Phone service available to most areas in the state."

Digital Phone uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), so customers must have a broadband Internet connection. They also need a small adapter box, which Citynet supplies, and in some cases, a router, which Citynet can also supply.

Unlike some phone companies, Citynet did not adopt off-the-shelf VoIP technology but designed its own system. That gives Citynet more ability to customize the Digital Phone features for individual customers' needs.

For example, through easy-to-use controls, a customer can route calls to be answered at home, work or elsewhere. Multiple phones can ring simultaneously. In addition, an auto attendant can be set to answer the phone with different messages at different times, according to the customer's schedule.

"We empower customers to have their phones ring wherever, whenever and however they want," Ben Randolph, Citynet's Digital Phone director, said. "They have complete control over their phones."

Citynet is an integrated communications provider that is owned and operated by West Virginians. It provides state-of-the-art voice, data and Internet services to wholesale and retail customers in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, as well as wholesale connectivity in nine other states in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions.