 Later , on August 18 , AT & T issued a statement saying : " Our customers have the option of receiving a bill that is detail @-@ free . Also , we have for years encouraged our customers to switch to online billing because it is convenient , secure , and environmentally friendly . " Then , on August 22 , AT & T announced via text message to iPhone users that it was removing itemized detail from paper bills . Ezarik responded , " Looks like they may have got the message , " in response to AT & T 's action . Company spokeswoman Lauren Garner claimed public reaction was not the reason for the company 's switch from detailed to summary billing , saying , " This was something we planned all along . " 
