Verizon Wireless is backing a free operating system that competes with programs from Microsoft, Google and Qualcomm and expects it to become the "preferred" software on its network.

The No. 2 U.S. mobile service joined a consortium working on a Linux-based mobile operating system expected to rival a mobile system being developed by a group headed by Google.

The announcement follows signals last month that AT&T would support Android, the Linux operating system being developed by Google and about 30 partners.

"Verizon Wireless is demonstrating itself a champion of openness in mobile innovation by joining the board of LiMo Foundation," said Morgan Gillis, executive director of LiMo Foundation. "Major wireless service providers from across North America, Asia and Europe are now engaged in committed collaboration through LiMo. This offers further concrete evidence that LiMo is positioned at the heart of the rapidly emerging, industry-wide trend to secure the benefits of openness and choice in technology."

Verizon Wireless said it would take a seat on the foundation's board and expects to sell its first phones based on the LiMo operating system in 2009.

Launched in January 2007 by Motorola, NEC, NTT DoCoMo, Panasonic, Samsung and Vodafone, Verizon Wireless joins the foundation's other 39 members in working to deliver an open and consistent software platform based upon Mobile Linux.

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