One connector to rule them all...
Micro-USB connections should be standard for new mobile handsets, according to a report from The Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP) today.
The news comes just over eight months after the USB implementers Forum completed the Micro-USB specification. Charging and data connectivity will be supported through the diminutive connector, which is roughly half the height of a Mini-USB connector.
In addition, the usage specifications (PDF) outlined in the document recommend the Micro-USB port be used to stream media including SD and HDTV; connect to a headset or car kit; act as a modem as well as provide the interface for firmware flashes.
The recommendations will be supported by OMTP members Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, LG and Samsung. Other manufacturers are expected to follow suit.
The change to a common interface will shrink the market for mobile accessories which previously relied on proprietary phone connectors. However Paul Budde, Managing Director of telecommunications research company Paul Budde Communication, believes the benefits of standardisation will be welcomed by users.
“One of the disasters in the industry is the [myriad of] standards,” he said, adding that the increased interoperability and functionality will “address the problem of underused facilities offered by the networks and devices.”