USB 3.0 Compliance and Certification Program Available

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) announced the availability of the USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB) Compliance and Certification Program. The program allows manufacturers to achieve certification and qualify to use the SuperSpeed USB logo by testing their products to ensure compliance to the USB 3.0 specification.

“The availability of the Compliance and Certification program is a significant milestone, and means consumers are one step closer to seeing certified SuperSpeed USB products on store shelves,” said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF president and chair. “When consumers see the SuperSpeed USB logo, they will have the assurance that the product interoperates with existing USB 2.0 products and provides all the speed and power efficiency enhancements that SuperSpeed USB offers, while continuing the ease-of-use consumers have come to expect from USB.”

The various test suites/test specifications that are part of the Compliance and Certification program were developed at the SuperSpeed USB Platform Interoperability Lab (PIL), which launched in March, 2009. Since it opened, early SuperSpeed USB adopters have taken advantage of the tools and USB expertise offered at the PIL. SuperSpeed USB Compliance and Certification testing will initially be hosted at the PIL. Eventually, Compliance and Certification will be offered at USB-IF workshops and at Independent Test Labs, similar to the current Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) Compliance and Certification program.

According to industry analyst firm In-Stat, SuperSpeed USB will expand upon the broad market adoption of USB, which is the most successful interface in history with more than three billion devices shipped in 2008 alone. “We expect SuperSpeed USB to broaden into new applications that require the higher data transfer speeds and improved power management capabilities that the new standard offers,” said Brian O’Rourke, senior analyst at In-Stat. “By 2013, we expect SuperSpeed USB to represent approximately 30% of the USB market.”

Vendors can register their products for testing by completing the PIL certification request form available on the USB-IF Web site. Products that pass certification will be added to an Integrators List of certified SuperSpeed USB products, which will be made available on the Web site. The Integrators List is the central reference guide for the industry, and will enable manufacturers to view certified SuperSpeed USB components that have met the USB-IF Certification and Compliance Program criteria. Companies with certified products can then license rights to use the SuperSpeed USB logo.