CTIA’s call for 3.5mm jack mirrors UMSD

Rating: What about PC-less software distribution, though?

Brilliant minds obviously think alike. GoMo News’ advocacy of a Universal Mobile Storage Device (UMSD) was pre-empted by the CTIA a few weeks ago. However, the CTIA’s focus was more on a common audio connector rather than storage.

What the International Association for the Wireless Industry was suggesting is that mobile manufacturers go further and adopt not just one interface (the micro USB port) but two common interfaces.

The second is a 3.5 mm jack for audio accessories such as hands-free headsets and headphones. The 3.5 mm is very common but – once again – is one means by which handset vendors attempt to differentiate themselves.

So don’t hold your breath on the universality of the 3.5 mm plug.

The association did argue that the micro USB format should be standardised for connecting a range of peripheral devices such laptops and netbooks but it didn’t specifically mention storage and/or USB memory sticks.

What the CTIA’s  CEO, Steve Largent, did say is that, “By simplifying input and output features on mobile devices, economies of scale will reduce consumers’ costs.”  Software vendors’ costs, too, of course.

The body also pointed out that its board of directors  includes representatives from Nokia, LG, Motorola, Samsung and RIM so it obviously has a lot of clout in this area.

What the CTIA is guilty of  is the same assumption that many software vendors make – namely that all handset owners have access to some form of PC.

That’s a fair assumption in developed countries but absolutely flawed in developing economies – which is where most handsets are now being sold and  areprobably the biggest adopter of advanced mobile apps such as person to person banking.

Perhaps the CTIA will set up the technical committee for UMSDs GoMo News suggested, anyway?