Key vendors line up behind USB 3.0

By Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 19 September 2007 06:49

Home IT

Major vendors including Intel and HP are backing proposals for a new version of USB that will be ten times faster than current implementations while retaining backward compatibility.

The higher speeds will be achieved by adding optical fibre to the existing copper connection, but existing devices will still work with USB 3.0 ports.

"USB 3.0 is the next logical step for the PC's most popular wired connectivity," said Jeff Ravencraft, technology strategist with Intel and president of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). "The digital era requires high-speed performance and reliable connectivity to move the enormous amounts of digital content now present in everyday life."

USB connections are already a bottleneck for some applications, notably digital video and higher-performance storage devices.

Phil Schultz, vice president, consumer inkjet solutions at HP added "with USB 3.0, we're creating an even better experience for customers when connecting their printers, digital cameras or other peripheral devices to their PCs."

The USB 3.0 Promoter Group formed by HP, Intel, Microsoft, NEC, NXP Semiconductors and Texas Instruments expects to complete the specification by mid 2008, which means the first devices are likely to appear in 2009 or possibly 2010.

Compliance and related issues will continue to be handled by USB-IF.

"[W]e anticipate that USB 3.0 will rapidly become the de facto standard as the replacement of USB 2.0 ports in applications where higher bandwidth is valued," said Greg Hantak, vice president worldwide ASIC at Texas Instruments.