USB Type-C is slowly but surely becoming the norm, and while only a handful of smartphones were equipped with this type of connector in 2015, this year many other smartphone makers have either joined the bandwagon, or are preparing to do so by year’s end. Intel even thinks consumers will eventually prefer USB-C to the normal jack. As a part of organisation’s new certification and compliance programme (Certified USB Charger Logo and Compliance Program), manufacturers will submit their products and the certifications will be given on the basis of USB Power Delivery and USB Type-C specifications.
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While the consensus is that Apple will remove the 3.5mm headphone jack on new iPhones unveiled next month, in favor of an all-in-one Lightning connector for audio output, charging, and accessory connectivity, Intel continues to position USB-C as the open standard of the future for digital audio.
The USB-IF says that the program will allow customers to be confident that a single USB Type C charger will work with any of their devices.
The rollout of the new standard, which also includes the higher power bearing but faster USB 3.1, has produced some shonky products, sometimes through ignorance but sometimes through negligence.
The USB Implementers Forum also adds that consumers would be freed from having to purchase and carry multiple chargers, as the program should lead to a reduced number of chargers needed.
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USB Type-C remains a versatile port with a ton of potential, but the fact that different Type-C ports have different capabilities is still a sticking point. Furthermore, these chargers will be “certified to be compliant to the specification” and will be “tested for interoperability with other USB products”.
