back int' day I bought NTL because it provided me with a separate cable to my phone, which I've kept to this day. It does not and never has been used for phone. But when virginmedia bought them ought i think they stopped doing it.
if you have a smart mobile they will give you internet access with "tethering" depends if you mobile company has any limitations on it and its slow but will do for surfing e-mails etc i link my ace to my laptop when im staying in a hotel rather than pay a lot for wifi access