Bell Atlantic Mobile Recycles Wireless Phones

ALBANY, NY — Just where are all those old and unused cellular phones going? Bell Atlantic Mobile today announced the launch of a program aimed at putting old and unused cellular phones to work for the good of the community. The company's Wireless at Work Phone Recycling Program will allow wireless phone customers throughout the Capital Region to recycle their older model cellular phones by donating their equipment to Bell Atlantic Mobile-sponsored agencies.

The company already has the program up and running in the New York/New Jersey metro area, and in four months, the company has collected more than 2,000 phones for community service organizations. Recipients include local domestic violence shelters, crossing guards, and community watch groups.

"The recycling program has been a tremendous success in our New York market and as a result I'm happy to announce the expansion into the Capital Region," said Bob Stott, northeast region president of Bell Atlantic Mobile. "Our objective is to collect these phones, reprogram them to dial 9-1-1 at the touch of a button and put them into the hands of people who need emergency communications - all free of charge."

The program is open to any qualifying community service organization or business willing to serve as a collection point for the used phone equipment. Bell Atlantic Mobile will work with sponsored agencies to test and reprogram the phones to dial 9-1-1, and return the phones to the agencies or businesses where they will help individuals and communities improve security and emergency communications.

For consumers not affiliated with an organization, they can drop off their cellular phone (batteries and chargers) to any of Bell Atlantic Mobile's store locations throughout the Capital Region: 1770 Central Avenue and the Crossgates Mall in Albany, Shopper's World Plaza in Clifton Park, Galleria at Crystal Run mall in Middletown, and 862 South Road in Poughkeepsie.

As an added incentive to consumers who are contemplating a wireless phone upgrade, Stott said Bell Atlantic Mobile is providing sponsored agencies with coupons good for equipment discounts at Bell Atlantic Mobile Communications Stores throughout the area.

"These discount coupons are our way of thanking citizens for donating their older model phones to a worthy cause," he said."The evolution of wireless phones from analog to digital and the appeal of newer, smaller handsets, have produced a large supply of old, unactivated equipment sitting in desks, cabinets and even toy boxes throughout the area," added Stott.

For information on how to become a sponsored agency, please contact Bell Atlantic Mobile's Recycling Coordinator at (781) 932-1511. Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest wireless network in the East, covering 112,000 square miles, and the largest chain of retail outlets devoted exclusively to wireless voice, data and paging.

Based in Bedminster, NJ, Bell Atlantic Mobile has 6.2 million customers and 7,500 employees from Maine to Georgia and, through a separate subsidiary, in the Southwest. Bell Atlantic Mobile's parent is one of the world's largest wireless communications companies, with domestic operations in 25 states and international investments in Mexico, Europe and the Pacific Rim. For more information on Bell Atlantic Mobile visit: www.bam.com; on global operations visit: www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.

####