The humble USB, otherwise known as the Universal Serial Bus, has revolutionized the way we connect and transfer data between electronic devices since it first hit the market in 1996. The early development of the cable can be traced back to the early 1990s when it first became evident that a standardised user-friendly interface was required universally.
In the dark days before the USD connecting devices involved a number of proprietary connectors and protocols that often resulted in a jumble of wires and serious compatibility issues. To address the issue a group of technology companies including Intel, IBM, and Microsoft teamed up to create a universal standardized connector that eventually became the beloved USB.
As a growing number of worldwide markets adapted their cables Australia, the USA, Europe, and the rest of the world adapted to the first standard USB 1.0 with a maximum data transfer rate of 1.5Mbps (megabits per second.) This increased to 12Mbps shortly after. These early versions were mainly used for connecting peripherals like mice, keyboards, and printers.
Real evolution began with the introduction of the USB 2.0 in April 2000 drastically increasing the maximum rate of data transfer to 480 Mbps. This boost in speed meant a broader range of devices, such as external hard drives, cameras, and musical devices.
Next came the USB 3.0, also known as the SuperSpeed USB, in November 2008. Data transfer had now increased to 5 Gbps (gigabits per second), making it capable of handling high-end applications such as HD video streaming and massive file transfers.
August 2014 saw the introduction of the Type-C USB featuring a reversible connector and the ability to transfer data at speeds of up to 10 Gbps and deliver power for high-speed charging. This generation was designed to be compatible with multiple devices including laptops, smartphones, and others.
The Future of USB Cables
The future looks set to follow the past with advancements in data transfer speeds, power delivery, and versatility on the horizon. The main area of development will be in the super-fast charging of handheld devices, and with the advent of wireless chargers this is a competitive field.
USB Type-C PD technology is expected to grow and has now become standard for many devices. One of the main benefits of the USB Type-C PD is the ability to deliver better power management and faster charging times which is of the primary importance to consumers who are traveling often.
In conclusion, the history and development of the USB cable has seen significant evolution from back in 1996 when the first cables hit the market. With the growing market of ecommerce, it makes sense to stay up to date with the new USB cable technologies as they hit the market to deliver the fastest and smoothest service to our business clients, and also speed up our recreation time with connectable devices.