In Canada and the U.S., the market made the choice. But all this will probably change with the arrival of Third Generation technology. Then we'll see a new global standard. Back in the '80s, phones were bulkier and you could only use them for 20 minutes before the battery died. But now lots of people carry a wireless phone in their pocket, and they're travelling across oceans, which makes commonality a much greater issue.
Manufacturers are almost sure to agree to create an entirely new standard.
Like a number of countries, Canada has a number of contributors who are at the leading edge, including some here in Ottawa. Our real strength is currently more in software than hardware, but we don't take a back seat to anyone. In the early days of the personal computer, you practically had to be a programmer to use one, and now you just point and click. Wireless will be the same. Manufacturers know there'll be only a limited market for something that no one over 35 can use easily.