Into the Future With DIGITUS® USB 3.0 Products

In November 2008, the USB Implementer Forum, which includes HP, Microsoft and Intel in its ranks, presented the specification for USB 3.0.

Already, at the CeBIT 2009 trade fair, DIGITUS® distributed the first USB 3.0 sample cables as giveaways and accepted the first orders for the USB 3.0 cables. Deliveries were made to customers as early as in April 2009. When procuring new USB cables, it is worthwhile to buy DIGITUS® USB 3.0 cables, since they are all downward compatible.

All USB 3.0 cables from DIGITUS® support data transfer rates from 4.8 to 5.0 Gbit/s  4800 to 5000 Mbit/s  600 Megabyte/s and instead of the 100 mA that is common with USB 2.0, now provide 150 mA of current per device.

In the case of USB 3.0, devices such as external hard disks, for example - which require far more power than, say, card readers - can be connected and run without any problems over USB 3.0. Instead of the 500 mA so far, 900 mA are now delivered. The older drivers can be continued to be used, but driver updates can be worthwhile under certain circumstances, for example, to use the new current-saving modes.

The higher data rates have been made possible by a transmission technology that is similar to PCI-Express or Serial ATA. Since there are now five more contacts present in the plugs, new plugs and cables were introduced with USB 3.0. Thus, in the framework of the USB 3.0 standard signed in the year 2008, another six connector types with additional contacts were defined. However, only the A and B plugs and the micro B-plug have been certified and approved by the USB organization so far.

The first USB 3.0 PCI Express and ExpressCard (Form 34) interface cards have already made an appearance in the market; however, their chipsets are still said to carry significant bugs. The main problems are in the compatibility, especially with USB 1.1 components.

The first external hard disks with USB 3.0 support are under development and already available here and there. But they are hitting technical limits. In addition, the PCI-SIG is planning another new version: PCIe 3.0, which is to make 1000 MB/s possible. But the publication and market launch are still uncertain.

The Serial-ATA interface supports 1.5 GBit/s at a net data rate of approx. 150 MByte/s. SATA II is the expansion of Serial ATA. Serial-ATA-II theoretically supports 3 GBit/s, with a net data rate of 300 MByte/s. The specification of SATA-3 (also called SATA 600), already published but not yet implemented, is to support 6 GBit/s or 600 MByte/s net.

Accordingly, there are currently no hard disks that could fully exploit the speed of USB 3.0. The first peripheral devices are only expected towards the middle of 2010.

Nonetheless, DIGITUS® is placing its faith in the new standard USB 3.0. There are already cables and modules according to USB 3.0, although with the restrictions specified above. In addition, the first series-manufactured products will be launched in the market by the middle of 2010 and at the time, will already be attractive in terms of price.

According to a recent evaluation of the market researchers from "in-stat", more than 3 billion devices with USB connections are sold all over the world. USB is thus one of the most successful interfaces of all time. By 2013, sales is expected to reach four billion and the Superspeed mode will make an important contribution to this.
Particularly in the Home Entertainment area (for example, Bluray devices, television sets, digital cameras etc.) and with WirelessLAN routers, there is great growth potential for the USB-interface.

Thanks to the improved conductor quality and the multiple shielding, USB 3.0 cables can bridge distances up to 10 meters; only 5 meters were possible with the USB 2.0 standard. Another advantage: the new USB 3.0 A plugs have nine contacts, i.e. five more than before. But the contacts and the sizes of the A-plug fit in USB 2.0 sockets, i.e. they are downward compatible.

USB 3.0 meets all the preconditions for being as successful as its predecessor if not even more successful.

The first devices that will support USB 3.0 will probably be main boards and Flash drives.

Dealers can obtain further information from www.digitus.info. DIGITUS® products can be purchased by dealers from the usual distributors.

High-resolution photo and image material on this press release and information and photos on the company ASSMANN Electronic GmbH are available for downloading from the following web address:
http://www.assmann.com/index.php?id=322&L=3

Brief company profile
ASSMANN Electronic GmbH was founded in 1969 in Lüdenscheid/Germany as a manufacturer of connectors and adapters for internal and external computer cables.
With his own branches in Austria, France, Sweden, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, Mexico, USA, China and Taiwan, this ISO-certified specialist in computer accessories and network solutions today supplies IT distributors and key accounts worldwide. The major part of the product range consists of the DIGITUS® brand range. Active and passive network components, KVMs, USB and Firewire products, cables, adapters and connectors, (S)ATA/SCSI products, peripherals, notebook, PDA, computer and multimedia accessories are supplied both for private consumers and professional users. The DIGITUS® brand was introduced in 1994, and is now well-known in many markets for its “Best Value for Money” quality. (80)

Contact press
Ilona De Laever
ASSMANN ELECTRONIC GmbH
Auf dem Schüffel 3
58513 Lüdenscheid
Germany
Phone: (+49) 0 23 51 - 55 4 – 660
Fax: (+49) 0 23 51 - 55 4 – 661
E-Mail: i.delaever@assmann.com
Web: www.assmann.com • www.digitus.info

This release was published on openPR.