The new USB 3.0 spec, which can handle data transfers of up to 4.8 Gbps, is the successor to USB 2.0 and should be appearing in devices in late 2009, according to ZDnet.

The USB 3.0, which is also dubbed "SuperSpeed", is up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0 is predicted to be more power-efficient.

"SuperSpeed USB is the next advancement in ubiquitous technology," Jeff Ravencraft, the president of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the industry group that promotes USB technology, said in a statement on Monday. "Today's consumers are using rich media and large digital files that need to be easily and quickly transferred from PCs to devices and vice versa. SuperSpeed USB meets the needs of everyone, from the tech-savvy executive to the average home user."

As for backwards compatibility: (from TG Daily)

USB 3.0 will remain backwards compatible with USB 2.0 as far as the Type A connector is concerned. While USB 2.0 is based on uni-directional data flow with negotiated directional bus transitions, USB 3.0 supports simultaneous bi-directional data flows through the use of dual-simplex four-wire differential signal wiring as compared to half-duplex two wire differential wiring in USB 2.0.

What does that mean? I'm not so sure, but it sounds fast, fast, fast. Kudos for the USB Implementers Forum for getting this spec finalized and out the door. After all, where would we be today without USB? Life would probably be a little bit more complicated... Remember serial and parallel connections? Yikes!

For more information and details on the new spec, head over to ZDnet and TG Daily.