Intel releases draft spec for USB 3.0 controller

With AMD and NVIDIA threatening to develop their own USB 3.0 spec if they didn't receive the USB 3.0 host controller spec from Intel soon, on Wednesday Intel released the Extensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI) draft specification revision 0.9 for USB 3.0 (also known as SuperSpeed USB). The release of the spec effectively ends their dispute with Intel. 

From CNET:

"They have both signed the agreement to use our spec instead...and will not develop and alternate version," an Intel spokesperson said Tuesday. The fact that AMD and Nvidia will not pursue a separate specification would, in effect, resolve the dispute.

AMD's support came with a qualifier, however. "Its a shame that it took the reality of an alternative spec to make this come true. Intel should have opened it up without this. One has to question a monopolist leading a spec like this in the future," a source close to AMD said.

Intel says the spec is 90% complete and that an additional 0.95 draft revision will be released later this year.