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With the barbs tossed between Verizon and Google last week, one probably wouldn’t expect the nation’s No. 2 carrier to join Android. Actually, it probably wasn’t going to happen even before that, as the two companies had a little tiff over the open-access rules for the 700 MHz auction. Not to let the open revolution slip through its fingers, Verizon has joined Android’s rival, LiMo. They now hold the final seat on the foundation’s board of directors.

“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 is committed and invested in encouraging innovation, providing developers the opportunity to deliver new wireless choices and expanding the mobile market,” said Kyle Malady, vice president of network for Verizon. “We expect our involvement with LiMo to advance these principles.”

Of course, just because they’re not on the board of directors doesn’t limit other carriers or handset makers to utilize the LiMo platform. It’s just that the board will decide on the architecture.

LiMo partners also include SK Telecom, NTT DoCoMo, and the Mozilla Corporoation. So while Android might have more name-brand value in the U.S., some major players are getting behind LiMo. Certainly, though, there could be room for two in this open game.

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