[snovvman]

1) What is your carrier?
2) Does your friend have the same carrier and the same phone?
3) Are you both in the same place when your phone turns itself on?

It is known that, at least for Sprint HTC Windows Mobile devices, when the phone switches between EVDO and 1xRTT, the screen turns on. (I have not observed this with Verizon Touch Pro or other Windows Mobile devices.) My Sprint Touch, Diamond, Touch Pro all do this. If you have poor coverage, especially poor DO coverage as I do at home, you will find that your screen turns on quite often. There is no known cure.

If your friend also has Sprint and the same phone, try his phone in the same place where you observe the screen turning on. If he has a different phone or not WM, or not even the same carrier, then the point is moot and you're comparing apples and oranges.