In-car connectivity is one of the biggest trends in the automotive industry both for carmakers and the aftermarket. USB ports are basic infrastructure that makes it all happen. The SAE reports that USB chips for PCs and consumer electronics company SMSC is moving into the automotive market with a multi-port hub.
Chips in SMSC’s TrueAuto line will let automakers link four USB devices to a vehicle, underscoring the rapid growth of USB as the preferred connection for consumer products. Today, a single port is a rarity with about 16 percent of 2006 vehicles sporting USC connections. Some prediction models show a 56 percent connectivity rating by 2015.
Multi USB ports will be used for MP3 players, cell phones, gaming and computing. Further these connections may also be moving into the back seat so passengers can keep in touch.