USB - Universal Supply Bus

Recently I got some controversial comments from one of the readers to my BlueSoleil post. Tam Hanna says the power supplies will never be standardized. And I have to admit, I do not agree. While device manufacturers still want to be protective of their own market shares (and avoiding standards is their way to go), there is a de facto power supply standard already present on the market - USB. At the moment 90% of my gadgets are powered / charged using USB. That includes a mobile phone (HTC), my wife's phone (SonyEricsson), an iPod, a Bluetooth headset, my son's Gameboy and Sony PSP. I even have a GP PowerBank USB, to charge standard AA batteries from any USB port.

And the USB standard makes it way forward. One of the ultimate gadgets is pictured here world power adapter (a single, reconfigurable mains plug that fits US, European, British and Far East / Australian standards). Designed by swiss travel products, apart from being just a plug adapter, it has a USB power socket. So now wherever I go, I carry just that one plug. It fits almost any socket in the World and it gives a Universal Supply Bus connection to charge almost any gadget you might have. BTW - availability of USB power cable is one of the points on my checklist now, when I buy any new electronic device.

Device manufacturers are not dinosaurs either. HTC has always had all their phones charged over USB (with mini USB port for both data transmission and recharging). Motorola joined the party several years ago. This is a strong differentiator of the Motorola mobile phones in my opinion. Hey, Nokia, are you listening?