The four major U.S. carriers are clamoring to leverage the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day as an opportunity to spotlight their particular shades of green. Here's a look at who's doing what as the Planet celebrates... well, being a planet.
Verizon Builds Green Stores
Verizon Wireless says that nearly 60 brick-and-mortar stores have been recognized for energy efficiency. That's up from 32 stores in 2009. According to a press release, 59 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores have been awarded the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star certification.
Sprint Adds Restore to Line-up
Sprint and Samsung have teamed up on the unveiling of the Samsung Restore, a follow-on to last year's Samsung Reclaim. The Restore, which is a slider qwerty-texting phone, will sell for $49.99 with a two-year agreement. Like the Reclaim, the Restore is made from recycled materials.
The Samsung Reclaim recently received the Best of Green: Best New Cell Phone Award in the Science and Technology category by TreeHugger.com.
T-Mobile Plants Trees
T-Mobile gets green with a paperless billing offer similar to the AT&T has on tap. T-Mobile will plant a tree on behalf of those customers that switch to parperless billing. Also, T-Mobile is the exclusive carrier of what Motorola bills as the "world's first CarbonFree Certified mobile phone," the MOTO W233 Renew.
AT&T Offers Discount on Charger
AT&T is offering the award-winning AT&T ZERO Charger at a 40 percent discount to any customer who brings in a wireless device for recycling in its stores. Once the charger is available in AT&T stores this May, the discount will be available on one charger per customer.
The carrier also says it will sponsor the Earth Day Network's Earth Week event and will host an interactive, solar-powered exhibit in Washington, D.C., through April 25 on the National Mall. AT&T also will offer to have a tree planted for the first million AT&T customers who make the switch to paperless billing through its current promotion.