Expect USB 3.0 to land in a big way in 2012. The USB Implementers Forum this week announced that the chipset for Intel's upcoming Ivy Bridge processors, together with other Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) chipsets have achieved certification for USB 3.0. Also known as SuperSpeed USB, USB 3.0 was designed to succeed USB 2.0 and deliver up to 10 times the transfer speeds of the former protocol.

SuperSpeed USB certification "helps ensure interoperability and backward compatibility within the broad USB ecosystem," says Ahmad Zaidi, general manager of Intel Corporation Chipset and SoC IP Group in a statement. As reported on CNET News, Ivy Bridge silicon is due to ship in Windows PCs in spring 2012.

With all Ivy Bridge laptops and desktops sporting built-in support for USB 3.0, its adoption is expected to dramatically increase from the smattering of support at the moment. Moreover, the competition will also drive down price points, which should also lead to broader adoption in peripherals and consumer electronics.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at CNET News

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