Back in December, USB.org, home of the USB 3.0 Promoter Group and the USB Implementers Forum, revealed that the next generation of USB connector would be reversible. That’s right, no more working out which way is up.
At the time, USB.org told us to expect final specification in mid-2014, and today the group announced that the USB Type-C connector is ready for production. The new USB Type-C brings a robust new cable and connector designed to fit mobile product designs, phones and laptops alike. It uses two sets of the pins found in the USB 3.1 SuperSpeed connectors, stacking them on top of each other so that the cable can use either the top pins or the bottom pins, depending on the orientation of the cable. It brings not only a reversible plug and cable direction but scalable power charging, as well as a slimmer profile.
This isn’t just about reversible connectors (though that might be the most immediately exciting thing about this news). This new USB Type-C connector will eventually replace every size of current connectors (like, eventually eventually) and is similar in size to the micro USB 2.0 type B connector you see on the majority of smartphones. What’s more, it’s rated for up to 10,000 cycles of insertion and removal, as opposed to the 1,500 insertion and removal cycles for standard USB.
The USB 3.0 Promoter group says that now that the new connector is ready for production, the management and establishment of a compliance and certification program will be transferred to the USB Implementers Forum.
[source]USB.org[/source]
MobileSyrup may earn a commission from purchases made via our links, which helps fund the journalism we provide free on our website. These links do not influence our editorial content. Support us here.
