Have to grok this, but this is a big, big deal. From the WSJ:
In a major break with industry practice, Verizon Wireless said it will allow consumers to use any compatible cellphone on its network and allow open access to the Web and third-party applications.
It’s is a reversal for the No. 2 U.S. carrier, which is known to be particularly protective of its network, and an acknowledgment of the direction of the wireless industry. Google Inc. is spearheading a similar move with an open-standards software platform — dubbed Android — and already counts Sprint Nextel Corp. and Deutsche Telekom AG’s T-Mobile USA as allies.