Cablevision entered the wireless service fray on Monday with Freewheel, a Wi-Fi-based phone service that will cost as low as $9.95 a month.

That price is for current Cablevision subscribers; those who sign up for Freewheel as a standalone service will pay $29.95 a month (those prices don't include the $99 for a Moto G, which is required access the service). The phone won't work out of Wi-Fi range, but Cablevision will give Freewheel customers automatic access to the Optimimum Wi-Fi network of 1.1 million hotspots.

Cablevision CEO James Dolan cited the "growing shift to Wi-Fi-driven consumer electronic devices and services.

"As a company, we are focused on providing services for these consumers and solidifying our position as the New York market’s premier connectivity company," Dolan dded. "Freewheel is the next leap forward in the advancement of the connected lifestyle, and our Optimum W-iFi network and the prevalence of W-iFi nationwide serves as its foundation.”

Cablevision's entry comes after T-Mobile announced Wi-Fi-based calling and texting in September. T-Mobile's plan is designed to augment areas in which T-Mobile's wireless network provides weak service. Sprint also offers Wi-Fi-based calling for Android phones.

Smaller players have also attempted to use Wi-Fi to pare down wireless costs. Scratch Wireless charges $99 for a Motorola Photon Q and then has no fees at all, unless you want to tap into Sprint's wireless network (prices range from $1.99 for 24 hours to $24.99 a month for unlimited data). Republic Wireless also offers Wi-Fi-based plans employing the Moto G and Moto X that range from $5 a month (100% Wi-Fi) to $40 a month ("unlimited" 4G service up to 5 GB via Sprint's network.)

AT&T, meanwhile, is expected to begin offering Wi-Fi-based calling sometime this year. Verizon is expected to do the same in mid-2015.