"With the popularity of tablets, the standards and specifications of the devices are converging to one worldwide standard, " said D'Amico.

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After all, even electricity has no worldwide standard of voltage or frequency.

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The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation wants to see a worldwide standard for labelling and tracking, but that appears to be a long way off.

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The industry's trade organization, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, frequently points out that the FDA already sets the worldwide standard for drug safety and that many of the medicines drug firms invent are lifesavers.

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"Our principal goal is to create one worldwide standard that all wireless handheld devices work on for Internet access and browsing, and it would be a huge accomplishment to have 3Com join, " said Chuck Parrish, who recently completed his tenure as chairman of the WAP Forum.

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Compaq urged users to immediately discontinue use of the recalled batteries, which were distributed worldwide as standard components of the Armada notebooks and as separate options or replacement spares.

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The Mouse Brain Atlas fast became a standard tool for neuroscientists in both industry and academia worldwide.

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So here Apple suggests that Motorola lay down its standard essential patents and the injunctive relief they offer, worldwide, while Apple still gets to use its weapons and shoot at will?

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With more than 100 winning journalists already recognised for their reporting excellence since the competition began, the competition has set the standard for an initiative by CNN to launch similar competitions worldwide, thereby demonstrating its commitment to the journalistic community.

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