USB org moves to clarify status of USB 2

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 19 Jun 2003 at 12:04

The organisation supervising USB - the USB-IF (Universal Serial Bus Implementers Forum) - has moved to clarify the status of USB 2.

The issue it is addressing is that officially the USB 2.0 Specification encompasses a range of USB data transfer speeds. These include the 'low' (1.5Mbit/sec), 'full' (12Mbit/sec) and 'high' (480Mbit/sec) implementations. The organisation states it is important that vendors clearly indicate the exact type of product on the packaging and in marketing materials.

USB 2 does not mean automatically mean 480Mbit/sec. Indeed, the organisation refers to 'existing general misconception that USB 2.0 is synonymous with Hi-Speed USB' and that the failure to correctly display certified USB logos on qualified products is creating confusion in the marketplace.

With regard to USB 2, the Web site states, in bold for emphasis, 'The correct nomenclature for high-speed USB products is "Hi-Speed USB." The correct nomenclature for low or full-speed USB products is simply "USB." This should be taken into consideration for product naming.'

You can read the full statement here.

The advantage for vendors, of course, is that they are able to fulfil customer expectations for the latest USB standard (and USB 2 is backwards compatible with USB 1.1).

Slashdot has highlighted this issue, off the back of a Bangkok Post article - The USB forum pulls a fast one article. The decision to accommodate 1.1-style speeds within the USB 2 brand was apparently taken back in December by the USB-IF.

Leave your comments about USB 2 and the 'correct nomenclature' by clicking the comments link below.