Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is quietly working to develop a standard docking station format for their Ultrabook platform, reports VR-Zone. This new system will apparently revolve around the company's Thunderbolt technology and use a proprietary housing connector that includes both a Thunderbolt connector and an additional port for non-Thunderbolt signals. The latter will be used for power as well as direct access for the Ethernet controller--think Intel vPro.

The report observed: "In simple terms, Intel is suggesting that the notebook makers should fit a rather large dock connector plus a mini DisplayPort connector side by side to make it easy to attach a dock or a port replicator via either a cable or a side mounted latch mechanism of some kind."

In addition, the report says that Intel considers USB 3.0 a poor option but speculated that Intel is merely attempting to push sales of its more expensive Thunderbolt chips. However, a quick look at the inherent processor overheads in the USB 3.0 protocol shows that Thunderbolt is a technically superior option for high-speed data transfers.

Moreover, given how Thunderbolt has a theoretical ability to top 100Gbps in raw throughput, its widespread use as the docking connector of choice for Ultrabooks (and laptops) would be very welcome indeed.

For more:
- check out this article at VR-Zone
- check out this article at MacRumors

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