Verizon is following in Sprints footsteps and is set to open their network beyond their own devices.  A while back Sprint announced it would let any capable device operate on their network, and Verizon is now following right along. Most likely influenced by Google's "open-standards" platform, if you aren't happy with the multiple phones offered by the No. 2 provider, you will be able to use any compatible device on the company's vast network.  It also helps position them in the event that Verizon Wireless chooses to bid next year on the 700 MHz spectrum, which the FCC said will have similar openness requirements.  The drawback is Verizon would have to test phones and applications for compatibility in a new "lab" before anything actually moves forward.

[ CrackBerry Forums via PCMag ]