Comcast weighing plans for Wi-Fi phone service

Could mobile phone service soon be on your Comcast cable bill?

The communications giant, which is currently in the midst of a $45 billion acquisition of rival Time Warner Cable, is reportedly developing a wireless service that would mostly rely on Wi-Fi capable phones. The service would use Wi-Fi from wireless routers and public hotspots.

When Wi-Fi isn’t available, the service would use spectrum leased from traditional carriers like Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.

CNET is laying out Comcast’s plans, citing a report appearing in The Information.

The country’s largest cable operator also offers Internet and phone service, as well as home security systems. Over the past couple of years Comcast has been building an expansive public Wi-Fi hotspot network for its broadband customers to access.

The number of its Xfinity hotspots in public locations nationwide has now surpassed 1 million.