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August 23, 2007 12:40 PM PDT

AT&T saves some trees

by Kent German
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Apple iPhone

It's gone green

(Credit: Corrine Schulze/CNET Networks)

AT&T has dropped its ridiculously long iPhone bills that quickly became a laughingstock of the cell phone industry. Customers with now get a summary bill that will run about three pages. Full statements will details of each phone call and data transfer will continue to be available on AT&T's Web site.

The first round of iPhone bills quickly became conversation pieces after the first batch was mailed. Because the bills detailed each time the user accessed the Internet, even if the surfing session lasted under a minute, the bills were tens of pages long. Though CNET's iPhone bill was just 13 pages (front and back) other bills ran over a hundred pages. Justine Ezarik, a Pittsburgh graphic artist, received a 300-page bill that came in a box. Yes, it came in a box. Her YouTube video, cleverly shot to the jingle of the iPhone TV commercials, made the Web rounds.

What's most puzzling about the bills is that they copiously document something for which users are not charged. Since iPhone customers have plans with unlimited Internet access, the bills were not only wasteful but also unhelpful. Fortunately, AT&T's decision to shorten the bills will be easier on customers and mail carriers alike. And it will save a few trees in the process.

Kent German is a senior editor for cell phone reviews at CNET. When he's not testing the newest handsets on the market, he's blogging about cell phone news for Crave. In his On Call column, he answers reader questions and gives his take on the rapidly changing mobile industry. E-mail Kent.
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Want to really save trees?
by Broggy August 23, 2007 12:57 PM PDT
Use more paper.

The paper industries will plant more trees, to match the growing need of more paper.

The more paper you use the more trees will be planted and so forth.

We in the USA have more trees then we did 100 years because of manufactors like Wherehouser (I like that is how it is spelled). The have a lot of tree farms, from baby trees to adult trees. They will plant as many trees as needed to meet the growing demand of paper.

Worried about all the animals? Studies have showed the animals prefer to live in young growth forrest vs old growth forrest.

Wherehouser has both, and a large percent of the animals will move to the younger growth all by them lonsome.

The small percent will move once all the big machines arrive to cut down the trees, after which they remove all stumps and plant new ones.
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The Company is Weyerhauser
by heller.bob August 23, 2007 1:16 PM PDT
It is pronounced where-house-er
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