Brad Ideas - Why don't cell phones have USB? - Comments

some cell phones have USB

Kevin B — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:06:13 -0800

Hi, I just got a new cell phone, and it seems to have an odd little USB connection. Of course it is special, proprietary so I cannot simply hook it up using a micro USB data cable, but still the technology is there. I have a ZTE Fastap, and I wish I knew what type of USB it uses so I could find a connectivity kit. The port is used for charging, and a headset adapter to utilize the phone like an mp3 player.

Yes, it's improved

brad — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:35:33 -0700

a lot in the 3.5 years since I wrote this.

There are a few phones with

Huey P. Williams Sr. — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 05:03:49 -0700

There are a few phones with usb connections on them and when I need a new phone I will only buy one with a usb connection. My cell phone, MP4 player and gps/pda all have usb connectivity without the proprietary adaptor. All of my vehicles have a usb charger in them so I can charge any of devices with same charger. If more people would only buy devices that can connect via usb without an adaptor the companies would stop making all the dumb proprietary connections. It is all about profit for the phone manufacturer and enconvience for the consumer. My first question about every great new cell phone is, can it connect via usb without an adaptor? If the answer is "no" then it is not a great phone and I don't need the discuss any other details about that phone.

One Plug to Rule them All...

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:26:31 -0700

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/21/omtp_data_standard/

so finally i could'nt got

Anonymous — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 12:03:59 -0700

so finally i could'nt got you all .my question was can we control a usb pendrive with our nokia phone having a connection to the usb port of our pc.using that connection can we use the pendrive with it

Answer:

bob frost — Sun, 14 May 2006 15:47:11 -0700

Cause if it was USB then it would be easy. Has cell phone accessorizing and customizing ever been easy? Not hardly. I don't know about any of you but I sure have a hard enough time just sending a text message using the number pad on a standard cell phone. It's slow and annoying. This forces me to want to upgrade to a PDA or some other godly priced, miniture, obsolete computer that has a cell phone built right in. Which is barely upgradeable btw.

The answer is always $$$!

USB Flash memory in a mobile?

Raj — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 17:47:09 -0800

Is there any mobile phone that can also be used as a USB flash drive?

That is exact the question I

Jianli Dai — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 08:55:31 -0800

That is exact the question I have. Thank you for raising it. We should let them hear these. Hope it is coming soon.

Re: USB Support for Samsung A840

Steve — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 14:50:22 -0800

What gives? Both Susteen and Mobile Action have newly announced USB support for the Samsung A840 cell set handset. While Susteen can support only Phone Book Management, Image download (read ony), and Calendar features, the Mobile Action kit can only support Sounds, Album, and File Management. Why so different? Why can't either group get all of the features supported. Is their expertise indvidually limited? Looks like I will have to purchase two separate software packages.

USB FlashDrives and mobility

Drew Stoiberg — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 12:53:22 -0700

One solution in transferring information between 2 USB devices, using a new technology called SOTG.

SOTG technology is embedded into Xmultiple's ShareDrive line of USB flash memory pen drives and can easily download and upload data files between a ShareDrive pen drive and any other USB Memory pen drive or any other USB memory peripheral such as computers, cell phones, MP3 players, etc.

ShareDrives are small, lightweight devices and are powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and are available in 128k, 256k, 512k, 1GB and 2GB sizes.

Check it out www.sharedrives.com

USB for mobile phones

Sam Technician — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 13:32:38 -0700

Using USB connection for mobile is an idea that saves alot of money for consumer. Mobile companies NEVER want to make it easy for consumer. They also never set a way to collect user comments about how to enhance thier phones. That is why sometimes you find some good brands like MOTOROLA or Siemens with some really stupid mistakes that really makes the user pissed off after buying the phone. Perhaps NOKIA is the nearest brand to reality and convenience. Trust me, the rest are all trash eiher bcoz they are using Asian, online, cheap developers, or becoz they just want to suck you blood.

Aaron — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 04:30:38 -0700

Excellent! I had exactly the same idea and google found you. There needs to be an ancillary physical standard for mounting phones, to fit cradles/docks/car dashboards.

A simple standard based on a geometric shape which only allows it to be connected one way. Spring loaded clips to hold it in place.

Paul Robinson — Thu, 22 Apr 2004 04:23:57 -0700

Most cell phones I have had DO NOT charge while in use. I've had some where I was using it while plugged in and the phone continues to draw down the battery. The only time it would recharge is whule it was not in use. So I don't think the issue of a phone recharging over USB during operation is that big an issue.

I think it's simply vendor lock-in; by using proprietary components they can sock you for more or make you pay big time for access to special features such as data use or upload/download of telephone books. Although using standard components would mean volumes of scale and probably lower costs to manufacturers, short-sightedness has never been in short supply. :)

Mike — Wed, 21 Apr 2004 17:17:07 -0700

There are some great power adapters for cellphones which plug into a USB port for power and then have a phone-specific "normal" low voltage plug.

I have recently also seen a power adapter that plugs into the wall (110v) and has a USB socket for plugging in your power requiring devices. It has no built in wired "tail".

Gene Carman — Mon, 19 Apr 2004 04:39:49 -0700

Another limitation of USB is the charging issue... USB is limited to 100 mA upon connection, and 500 mA when negotiated. This is fine for a cell phone in quiet mode... (not transmitting).

But a typical cell phone requires a lot more power (about an amp or more) when transmitting... so the cell phone design would have to limit charging on USB to non use modes, and the charge circuits will have to be smart enough to limit the current draw at all times one is connected to USB to that 500 mA max. (just complicates the design, that's all)

Here is another thought for you... should the USB of the phone be simply a slave? Why not allow the phone to also "host" devices? Typical would be say a camera... where the user might want to transfer files from cam to phone for transmission. Or what about an MP3 player or USB "memory key" where a user might want to upload or download data from their phone.

This further complicates to power situation, as now the phone could source power.

Not saying it could not be done... just a bit more complex than plugging in the old "memory key" to a USB port.

Why don't cell phones have USB?

brad — Mon, 29 Mar 2004 08:44:27 -0800

In line with earlier thoughts about univeral DC power, let me ask why cell phones haven't standardized on USB (or a mini-USB plug) as an interface?

USB provides power. Not as much as some chargers, but enough to get a decent rate to many phones. And it has data, which can be used for phone control and configuration, speakerphone and headset interfaces, address book sync, ringtone download, memory card download, data-modem connections to PCs and anything else, all with one standard plug.

Every cell store has a rack of scores of adapters, chargers and cables. Each time you get a new phone they want to sell you new accessories, I guess. We have a standard. Why don't we use it, or extend it enough to be used.

(I'll admit it's not a good headset interface due to USB's silly master-slave protocol, since to connect to the PC the phone would be a slave, and to connect to the headset it would be the master. But this can be worked around, and I'll tolerate an extra headset jack.)

See below for some interesting safety ideas...