USB-IF president: USB 3 is headed for the mainstream

Posted on Sunday, January 30 2011 @ 11:10 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck

In an interview with CNET, Jeff Ravencraft, president of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), explained USB 3.0 isn't late and that the interface is now headed for the mainstream.

"People forget that historically, there is no chipset company in the world that integrated USB from the get-go. It didn't happen with USB 1, It didn't happen with USB 2, It didn't happen with USB 3," Ravencraft said. I takes "a minimum of two years if not more" for a company such as Intel to build USB 3 support into its the chipsets that accompany its processors, he said.

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The cost of USB chips have dropped from about $7 each more than a year ago to about $1 now for devices that plug in with USB 3 and $2 for "host" systems such as computers into which USB devices can be plugged, he said. "Every penny counts, but at those prices, companies are going, 'Yeah, we're going to roll,'" Ravencraft said.

More details over here.

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Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.

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Re: USB-IF president: USB 3 is headed for the mainstream
by Anonymous on Sunday, January 30 2011 @ 16:10 CET

I think Intel is "behind" and doing so on purpose. However the entire rest of the market is jumping on board. Nearly every motherboard you buy now has a chip supporting USB 3 on it. So the momentum is "here" if you will. And since it's backward compatible with the old standard, you don't suffer a penalty for jumping on board.

Overall it's a win, because devices are always wanting more bandwidth. Video is everywhere on the web and in presentation materials, and that alone take a great deal of bandwidth. Add in music and multi megapixel cameras and the backups that so many folks "should" be doing, and you have plenty of uses for the bandwidth. It won't be long before we see Gigabit wireless as well that will need something faster than 480mbit ports to channel through.

It's all coming quickly - and 2011 is surging forward with USB 3.

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