The USB 3.0 promoter group has announced availability of the USB On-The-Go (OTG) 3.0 and Embedded Host supplement to the USB 3.0 specification. The USB 3.0 OTG spec enables portable SuperSpeed USB devices to communicate among themselves when a PC is not present.

The supplement ensures that mobile devices such as phones or cameras are able to use a SuperSpeed USB link in both USB host and USB peripheral roles through a single receptacle. OTG and Embedded Host Devices requiring fast synchronization or streaming of rich data will benefit from this feature.

The USB OTG 3.0 and Embedded Host supplement offers power saving features equivalent to those available in USB OTG 2.0, enabling the adoption of SuperSpeed USB in mobile devices. Additionally, USB OTG 3.0 provides backward compatibility with USB OTG 2.0.

“The USB 3.0 promoter group continues to optimize its specifications in order to meet the evolving requirements of the industry. The availability of the USB On-The-Go 3.0 and Embedded Host supplement addresses the industry’s need to transfer rich data using fast synch-n-go mobile devices," said Brad Saunders, the chairman of USB 3.0 promoter group.

The USB 3.0 Promoter Group has transitioned the supplement’s management to the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the managing body of USB specifications.

Tags: USB