In another move to battle Google, Verizon Wireless announced that they will be backing a free linux-based OS that should become the software of choice on their network.

Verizon will team up with the LiMo foundation to create the linux-based software to rival the linux-based platform developed by Google, the Android platform. News of Verizon’s push to a linux-based software comes after AT&T said that they will be backing the Android operating system by Google.

Verizon joins the LiMo foundation with Motorola, NEC, NTT DoCoMo, Panasonic, Samsung and Vodaphone. They will all be working together to create the open and consistent linux-based mobile platform.

Late last week, Samsung introduced the F400 music phone to Europe. The F400 is a dual sliding phone that was designed to bring users the best quality sound and music available. The big sound comes from speaker manufacturer Bang and Olufsen’s ICEpower technology.

The phone also includes Smart Bass technology for a nice and crisp sound on deep notes, as well as Smart Limiter technology, which controls the amplitude threshold. The F400 also has Digital Natural Sound engine 2.0 (or DNSe 2.0), which allows the user to customize their music for every type of genre.

Although not yet available in the US, the F400 will debut in France in May. Initially the phone will be available in two colours, black and white.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Cellular South will give a $200US credit to new customers to cover termination fees from the customer’s previous mobile provider. With this bold move, the company hopes that this will remove any barriers that prevented prospetive customers from switching from thier current mobile provider to Cellular South. There is currently no word on how long this promotion will last. Also, I will assume in order to receive your credit, you will probably have to provide Cellular South with an invoice regarding termination fees.

Samsung engineers have been hard at work creating a process which uses ordinary tap water to power your cell phone. Basically, the engineers have created a fuel cell small enough to fit a mobile phone, but powerful enough to last about 10 hours. Here’s how it works: Water, which is storred in the phone, makes contact with a metal plate, which then causes a recation to create hydrogen gas. The gas is then filtered into a fuel cell where it can react with oxygen to create electrical power. As mentioned above, current versions of this technology can last up to 10 hours, and you need to change the metal cartridge every 5 days. Sources say that these phones could be available by 2010 and those versions should not require the changing of the metal cartridge. All you would need to do is fill it with water periodically.

If you’ve been with Alltel for two years or more, and are subscribed to Alltel’s MyCircle package, you will be receiving a bounus from Alltel. The company is celebrating the second anniversary of their MyCircle package by giving a bonus number to anyone that has been with the company two years and has the MyCircle package. For instance, if you have 10 friends in your circle, Alltel will now allow you to add an 11th friend to your circle at no additional cost….if you have 20, you can and a 21st, and so on. The bonus number can be added by visiting your Alltell account online.