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I'm not sure what to make of this comment. Are you implying the US didn't have cell phones in the late 90's?

Even I had a cell phone, and still have my original (looks the one midway down on this page (http://www.mobilephonehistory.co.uk/motorola/motorola_list.p...) - a Motorola flip (MicroTAC)).

Notice the timelines as well. These were analog networks at first, but mobile was very popular here in the 90's.

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No, he is talking about GSM being a pan-european standard made companies and carriers compete on features and services rather than lock-in. Especially as GSM enforced the use of SIM cards that made it easy to move phones between carrier, or buy a phone outside of carrier offerings.

Observe in contrast how Verizon is massive in USA thanks to being one of two (Sprint being the other) CDMA carrier. I keep seeing Americans lament that they want to pick up some new phone, but can't because they are grandfathered into some Verizon contract or other.

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