A new residential telephone service called Blue Casa has opened for business in the South Coast area, in direct competition with Verizon.

Blue Casa Communications this week announced it is launching the new service to offer area residents an alternative to Verizon. The fledgling service is taking advantage of recent changes in federal and state regulations.

"Until now, one company held a monopoly on local phone service on the Central Coast," said Don Oas, CEO and founder of the new company.

Oas said the new company will offer innovations, including allowing customers to "create a custom bundle of local, long distance and calling features best suited for their lifestyle."