USB 3.0 headed to smartphones, tablets by end of 2012

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The USB Implementers Forum has announced that the high-speed USB 3.0 protocol will find its way to smartphones and tablets by the end of 2012. Already available for desktop and laptop computers, USB 3.0 will allow mobile devices to transfer data to and from a host computer at rates of up to 100MB per second. This is nearly fifteen times faster than what the current USB 2.0 technology offers. The new USB 3.0 ports will be backwards compatible with USB 2.0 computers and accessories. No manufacturers have committed to using USB 3.0 in mobile devices just yet, but the consortium says that it should be commercially available before the year is out.