Verizon Wireless joins Google-backed phone consortium.

"Exactly one week after announcing it would open up its network to compatible phones and applications, Verizon Wireless on Tuesday surprised the industry once again by joining Google's newly formed Open Handset Alliance. The move now puts the company's chief rival, AT&T, at an obvious disadvantage... 'The hope is that there are going to be a whole new range of devices and apps that the carriers can't really predict in their central planning, mass market business models.'"