Tablets, smartphones to get USB 3.0

Technology news provider Mashable reports that tablet computers and smartphones may soon be capable of supporting USB 3.0 connectivity, which would enable transmission speeds of up to 5 gigabytes per second and is 10 times faster than USB 2.0.

The development was revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. According to Mashable, USB Implementers Forum chief technology officer Rahman Ismail discussed the technology at the electronics trade event.

"What takes 15 minutes will roughly take 1 minute and 10 seconds," Ismail said.

In addition to faster transfer speeds, USB 3.0-enabled mobile devices also recharge more quickly and, according to Ismail, will be more power-efficient than current tablets and smartphones.

The technology will likely be available by the end of 2012, Mashable reports.

Several new developments are expected to hit the tablet market this year, including the advent of multi-core processors. This is already underway to a degree, but it will become more prevalent as people continue to demand more from their tablet computers.