Fantastic news. The main thing holding back new phone tech in the US is the refusal of cell carriers to permit non-approved phones on their networks.

Smart move on Verizon's part. They can't get the iPhone (no CDMA version) but they can try to level the playing field with some of the hot phones being sold in Asia and elsewhere. I hope Sprint will follow, as they have the worst phone lineup (and have been behind the curve for years).