Intel suspects Light Peak will take over

Intel's upcoming Light Peak standard could take over from USB 3.0, company senior fellow Kevin Kahn said today at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing. The 10Gbps peripheral standard was technically built to link up other standards but was seen by Kahn as possibly replacing 5Gbps USB 3.0 altogether in the next few years. He went so far as to treat Light Peak as a finality that may replace any other standard in the future.

"We view this as a logical future successor to USB 3.0," Kahn told those gathered at the event. "In some sense[s] we'd... like to build the last cable you'll ever need."

The Intel fellow also made clear the release plans and noted that Light Peak would only become available to component makers in late 2010. Actual shipping PCs should be ready earlier in 2011.

Light Peak is considered complementary to USB 3.0 at present, and for now would primarily reduce the number of connections inside a computer or, in some cases, on the outside. Some rumors have maintained that it's actually an Apple-inspired standard and would be used to simplify connections while making possible next-generation iPhones, iPods and other devices that could sync in a fraction of the time it takes on 480Mbps USB 2.0.

By Electronista Staff