Thunderbolt interface technology (Light Peak) was created by Intel but licensed exclusively to Apple for one year in June 2011. However, once other system makers had the opportunity to use the technology in their products, implementation has not been as widespread as predicted. Due to this phenomenon, this Digitimes Research Special Report investigates the obstacles and problems that Thunderbolt technology has faced in becoming more widespread in the market and offers predictions concerning the development of the technology in the future.
Table 1: Empirical research, development and commercialization of Thunderbolt
Multiplexed transmission capabilities are Thunderbolt's major value
FireWire and eSATA will not be able to compete with Thunderbolt
Development of WiGig, HDMI and DP needs to be taken into consideration
Chart 2: Thunderbolt, DisplayPort and WiGig compete against one another
Table 6: Specifications of controller (host) chips used in Thunderbolt
Chart 4: ASMedia pushes USB/Thunderbolt storage solutions for outer box chips
Analysis of motherboard and system providers use of Thunderbolt
Chart 5: Strategies and motivation for system makers to use Thunderbolt
Table 7: Timeline of Mac products using FireWire and Thunderbolt technologies
Table 8: System makers already integrating Intel technology into their devices
