Shaw Communications, a large Canadian telecom, has recently abandoned a $1 billion strategy to move into the mobile phone business and instead opted to spend less and focus on providing wireless broadband internet access that customers can plug into the company's broadband network.

The company started down this path after acquiring $190 million in wireless licenses in 2008, but the executive team decided against building out a full cellular network due to the high level of competition in that market. This reversal of course came as quite a shock because it basically throws away three years of planning and preparation to enter the cellular market on the part of the previous CEO, Jim Shaw. He resigned as CEO last year and handed the reins to his younger brother Brad Shaw.