Cox Communications Inc. plans to jump into the crowded market for cell phone service next year by launching its own service, Cox Wireless.

Cox, the third-largest cable company in the United States and the dominant provider in Rhode Island, will offer the service to its 6 million customers in the second half of next year as part of its bundled packages of cable TV, Internet and phone service, the company announced this week.

Cox customers who buy the service will be able to use their cell phones to program their digital video recorders, watch TV shows and access information on their home computers, according to Cox.