SuperSpeed USB technology, also known as USB 3.0, will see broad adoption across a range of PC and PC peripherals over the next several years, according to a new report.  Among peripherals, SuperSpeed USB will be targeted initially at devices requiring high data transfer rates and large data stores, such as external hard-disk drives and Flash Drives.  Other likely target devices include Portable Media Players (PMPs), LCD PC monitors, and digital still cameras.

The report projects that attach rates for SuperSpeed USB will soar to over 70% in external hard-drives by 2012, with similar attach rates in notebook and desktop PCs.  Initial adoption will emerge in 2010.  By 2013, shipments of USB 3.0 flash drives will approach 200 million units worldwide.  Eventually, mobile phones will be the highest volume segment, simply due to the overwhelming volume phones shipped.  Overall, SuperSpeed USB will represent over 25% of the USB market by 2013.

SuperSpeed may eventually move beyond those target applications requiring the highest bandwidth. However, in order to achieve broader adoption, cost will have to go down significantly.  To get SuperSpeed USB costs down and increase attach rates, the technology will have to be integrated into the application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and System-on-a-Chips (SoCs), that power the peripherals.

Other findings from the report include:

  • With over three billion devices shipped in 2008 alone, USB is the most successful interface ever. It has been broadly adopted across PCs, PC peripherals, consumer electronics (CE), communications and automotive devices.
  • Digital TVs with USB will grow to 140 million units shipped in 2013.
  • Consumer electronics devices with USB will rise at a 6.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2008 and 2013.

Details of the new report, table of contents and ordering information can be found on Electronics.ca Publications' web site. View the report: Wired USB 2009: High-Speed Rules, SuperSpeed on the Way.