Optical data transfers in your next mobile device? Yes, with USB 3.0

Usb_logoI’ve seen the light and it appears headed here via fiber optics. That’s one premise behind the planned USB 3.0 specification, which will be backwards compatible and much faster than current USB 2.0. The new spec will offer data transfers up to ten times faster by using optical data transfer, theoretically boosting the maximum throughput up to 4.8 Gbps over today’s 480 Mbps. In addition to the optical approach, the plan is to include the copper conduits for USB 2.0 compatibility and the same plug form-factor to ensure older USB cables and devices will work in USB 3.0 interfaces.

I haven’t seen much on the power requirements for the new spec, but the prospect of transferring or synching data up to ten times faster than today sounds good so far. Watch for specification developments in 2008 with products a year or two after that.

(via Gizmodo)

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