What it is

USB will allow users to connect up to 127 different peripherals all at once, using a single standard connector type. There will be no more guesswork about which serial or parallel port to choose, and nontechnical PC users will be able to say good-bye to DIP switches, jumpers, IRQ settings, DMA channels and I/O addresses. USB features hot insertion and removal, so users will be able to attach and detach peripherals anytime, without powering down their system.

In fact, USB hardware solutions from Intel are so flexible, they will make it easy to connect with the fast-growing world of new and existing digital peripherals, computer telephony integration (CTI) applications and popular multi-user games. In addition, USB enjoys widespread support from the industry's leading suppliers of PCs, peripherals and software. Intel supports USB with PCI chipsets and the industry's first single-chip USB peripheral USB Controller. For those developing and marketing products for PCs, it's time to make your own connection with USB now.

USB is an open and royalty-free specification with broad industry support.
Developed by Compaq, Digital Equipment, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, NEC and Northern Telecom.
The USB Implementers Forum consists of more than 250 semiconductor, computer, peripheral and software companies, providing marketing and technical support to help accelerate USB product development.

(What you need to know when planning to purchase a PC to use with USB peripherals.)

To stay up-to-date on Intel's USB technology, just register for Custom News For You and be sure to select Topics for Developers & Designers (sub-category Universal Serial Bus).