As if there isnt already a glut of smartphones on the market, a budding price war is likely to make it even more competitive.

Some entry-level smartphones are starting to go for dirt-cheap prices, and in at least one case, for free. Verizon Wireless is getting set to release the LG Optimus Vortex at no charge if you sign up for a new, two-year service agreement, according to the website Softpedia. Verizon so far is mum on a release date.

This is the same phone as the Optimus T” on T-Mobile, the site says, and it soon will launch as the Optimus S” on Sprints network. T-Mobile recently made the T free, likely to fend off a challenge from the upcoming Vortex.

Considering these Optimus phones run on the latest version off Googles Android software, 2.2., its pretty hard to beat this deal. Look for the Vortex to run on a 600MHz processor and feature a 3.2-inch touchscreen.

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