USB Goes Wireless, Again

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has announced the completion of a new wireless USB standard. Known officially as Media Agnostic (MA) USB v1.0, the specification hopes to find more success than its predecessor called simply Wireless USB.

The USB-IF used WiGig Serial Extension v1.2 specification as its initial foundation for the MA-USB specification. It is also compliant with SuperSpeed USB (3.0 and 3.1) and Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0). Devices that use MA-USB will be branded as 'Powered by MA-USB'.

"MA-USB is designed to allow the USB protocol to operate over a variety of different media types, whereas Wireless USB was designed to operate only over WiMedia UWB," the standards group said.

The added wireless options should, in theory, make the MA-USB a more popular option than Wireless USB. In addition to MA-USB, the USB-IF is also working on USB power delivery technology and a single, standard cable. The USB power delivery technology would allow users to charge their phones and tablets faster and, eventually, even their laptops. The USB-IF's standard cable will work for mobile and larger devices and will be reversible end-to-end so users will no longer have to worry about matching ports at both sides.

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