Industry leaders have formed to develop the next USB standard 3.0.  Data transfer is predicted to be ten times faster then 2.0 while maintaining backwards compatibility.  As our mobile devices get larger and larger we need to transfer that data quicker and quicker.  Not only will this new standard be faster but it will also be optimized for better efficiencies.  This means that it will use less power and we will have longer battery life for our laptops and mobile devices.  The new standard will maintain the existing plug and play ease of use.  The new standard is expected to be complete in the first half of 2008. 

Hopefully hardware manufacters will integrate USB 3.0 into there devices and consumers will be able to transfer data securely and effienciently.  With this new standard, i hope they can iron out some of the annoyances of previous USB standards.  There needs to be a set standard of the kind of USB plugs, these proprtary plugs different types are utterly annoying.  Hopefully we will actually see performance of the theoretical bandwidth they claim, I have never actually seen transfer rates relating to the max of USB 2.0.  USB remains to be the most popular device transfer medium and hopefully it will be getting better. 

check out more at www.usb.org