USB 3.0

USB 3.0 will be the next generation of high speed USB technology and is expected to provide large bandwidth gains over USB 2.0.

The proposed USB 3.0 technology will offer a transfer speed of 4.8 gigabits per second, ten times what is currently available from USB 2.0. Does this also mean ten times the power? Probably not as USB 3.0 will be designed to be energy efficient and support optical connections.

The USB 3.0 promoters group has been formed to make USB 3.0 a reality. Currently, its members include big names such as Intel, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Texas Instruments and NEC.

USB 3.0 will target synchronised, high bandwidth applications in the PC, consumer and mobile markets that are becoming necessary as file sizes are approaching and exceeding 25 Gigabytes.

Backwards compatibility is another important consideration of the USB 3.0 standard. It will be designed to allow the same plug and play capabilities of previous USB technologies. USB 3.0 ports and cabling will be designed to enable backward compatibility as well as providing future proofing for optical cables.

The final USB 3.0 specification is scheduled for release in the second half of 2008 and the first USB 3.0 products should be hitting the market in 2009.

The latest USB 3.0 information is available at usb.org.