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USB 2 Spec From WinHEC...

USB 2.0 PROMOTER GROUP ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF FINAL SPEC

Intel VP Underscores Tremendous Progress in Development of Technology in WinHEC Keynote

 
                      CONTACT: David A. Dickstein
                      Intel Corporation
                      (916) 356-2211; pager (800) 391-5379
                      david.a.dickstein@intel.com

WINDOWS HARDWARE ENGINEERING CONFERENCE, New Orleans, April 27, 2000 - New classes of high-performance PC peripherals are within reach with the release of the final Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 specification. The technology is developed by the USB 2.0 Promoter Group, consisting of Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Lucent, Microsoft, NEC and Philips Semiconductors.

As announced today by Intel Desktop Products Group vice president Pat Gelsinger in his keynote address here, the final spec of the high-bandwidth USB 2.0 is the technical launch pad for products with more functionality, including higher-resolution video conferencing cameras, next-generation scanners and printers, secondary storage and faster broadband Internet connections.

USB 2.0 will extend the speed of the peripheral to PC connection from 12 Mbps on USB 1.1 to up to 480 Mbps on USB 2.0 - or 40 times over existing capabilities. The higher bandwidth will support the most demanding PC user applications, such as digital image creation and web publishing, where multiple high-speed peripherals will be running simultaneously.

"The ability of the USB 2.0 Promoter Group to deliver the final spec in a little over a year after its formation is a testament to the solidarity of the seven member companies and the tremendous support of PC industry vendors in the development of this technology," Gelsinger said.

The rapid ramp of USB 2.0 can also be attributed to the evolutionary nature of the technology.

"Since the high-speed mode has the same basic architecture of USB, migrating existing USB peripherals to USB 2.0 is a much easier task than transferring to a brand new technology," Gelsinger said. "Also, because USB 2.0 will be fully forward and backward compatible with current USB systems and peripherals, working with existing cables and
connectors, consumers have the benefit of using devices they already have."

The first USB 2.0-enabled systems and peripherals are expected in the marketplace in the fourth quarter of this year as part of the initial ramp. Broad deployment is anticipated in 2001.

USB 2.0 complements higher-performance PCs and user applications, enabling both to be more productive. Scanners, for example, can create a high-resolution digital image in seconds on USB 2.0, versus minutes on USB 1.1 The time to download a "roll" of digital photos also will be slashed from minutes to seconds. Consumers will also find that they can back up a gigabyte of data from their PC hard drive in less than a minute on USB 2.0, a task that took about a half-hour on USB 1.1.

USB 2.0 is also expected to lead to the development of higher performance peripherals that will bring new applications to the PC, Gelsinger said.

I/O connectivity is being further advanced with the IEEE 1394 standard. USB 2.0 and 1394 primarily differ in terms of application focus. The USB 2.0 Promoter group expects USB 2.0 to be the preferred connection for most PC peripherals, whereas IEEE 1394's primary target is audio/visual consumer electronic devices such as digital camcorders, digital VCRs, DVDs, and digital televisions. Both USB 2.0 and 1394 are expected to co-exist on many consumer systems in the future.

The momentum of the release of the final USB 2.0 spec will be sustained at the next major event for the technology: the USB 2.0 Developers Conference, May 15-18 in Anaheim, Calif. Information, including online registration, is available by visiting www.usb.org.
 
 

Quotes from USB 2.0 Promoter Group companies

 
At the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) in New Orleans today (April 27), the USB 2.0 Promoter Group announced the release of the final Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 specification. The USB 2.0 Promoter Group,  which developed the technology, consists of Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Lucent, Microsoft, NEC and Philips  Semiconductors.

The following quotes pertaining to the announcement are from USB 2.0 Promoter Group companies:

From Jason Ziller, Intel technology initiatives manager:
"When Intel and six other leading companies formed the USB 2.0 Promoter Group in February 1999 and set a goal of releasing the final spec a little more than a year later, eyebrows were raised by many industry observers. Kudos to the technology development team for keeping on track even with the aggressive schedule. I am also very excited to see the level to which the industry at large has already embraced this technology enhancement to USB."

From Kevin Lynch, Lucent Technologies Microelectronics strategist, computer product ICs:
"Hats off to the designers and engineers who met the very aggressive schedule goals the USB 2.0 Promoter set for itself. The specification process flowed extremely well; the collaboration and cooperation was at an all time high. I'm confident that we have built a specification that will be quickly and profitably embraced by the PC industry."

From Nobuyoshi Yoshida, vice president and executive general manager of NEC Electron Device's System LSI Operations Unit, which on April 12 announced the uPD720100 USB 2.0 host controller:
"NEC is a key driver of the USB serial bus, leading the implementation of USB 1.0 & 1.1 in PCs and now the USB 2.0 specification with the world's first device based on the standard, the uPD720100 USB 2.0 host controller. USB 2.0 is an important strategic direction for us. The performance benefits USB 2.0 brings to the PC means our devices will bring greater value to hundreds of millions of users."

Follow-on NEC quote from Akihito Ohtake, vice president and executive general manager at the 1st Personal Operations Unit of NEC Solutions:
"NEC's personal computer operations have also played a pivotal role promoting USB in the personal computer market and, again, are a key force behind USB in the 2.0 specification. We led the way with USB 1.x and we're doing the same again with USB 2.0. We recognized at an early state the need to present our customers with easy-to-use, high-bandwidth and high-performance peripherals that USB 2.0 will provide - the market has come to expect that kind of leadership from NEC."

From Wei Leong Chui, USB technical marketing manager Philips Semiconductors, which also announced on April 27 the ISP1501 peripheral transceiver, the company's first USB 2.0 product:
"As part of the working group that developed the USB 2.0 specification, Philips Semiconductors is proud to be one of the first companies to introduce a USB 2.0 product. Our broad experience in USB products has helped us with our time-to-market for this exciting new 2.0 product, and also helps us to consult with customers who are designing in USB capabilities for a competitive edge."

For more information, see the USB Implementers Forum web site at www.usb.org.
 

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