So this makes sense, finally. USB On-The-Go is a specification which allows for devices to perform as either a USB Host or a USB Slave at will. In other words, your can plug your phone into your PC via its MicroUSB 3.0 (Update: It looks like I'm wrong and it's Micro USB 2.0) connection to synchronize files and charge it and then, later, have that same port accept USB thumb drives. Of course, that requires a USB storage device with a MicroUSB 3.0 2.0 plug.

The Corsair Flash Voyager GO USB OTG is one such thumb drive. It has the ability to plug into MicroUSB 3.0 2.0 ports on Android OTG-compatible phones and tablets. For convenience, it also has the ability to plug into full-sized USB 3.0 making it useful for both phone and laptop or desktop. USB 2.0 is also supported. It registers as a standard USB Mass Storage Device so no special software is required for Windows, Mac OSX, or Linux.

I find this very interesting albeit I am not a mobile user. I do wonder when we will see large capacity harddrives using this standard. It seems like a natural progression as demand for phones with video-out increases. Flash memory is nice but, when compared to microSD cards which are not vulnerable and hanging out of the USB port, I am not sure if there is enough capacity. Again, I am not a mobile user. I know that someone out there already has their credit card out.

The Flash Voyager GO will be available in 16 GB ($19.99 USD), 32 GB ($29.99 USD), and 64 GB ($49.99 USD) variants. It is rated to transfer at up to 135 MB/s over USB 3.0.

Press release after the break.

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Corsair Announces USB On-The-Go Flash Drive

Corsair Flash Voyager GO USB OTG Flash Drive Brings Portable Thumb-sized Storage to Smartphones, Tablets, and PCs

CES 2014 — Las Vegas, Nevada — January 7, 2014 — Corsair®, a world leader in high-performance components to the PC hardware market, today announced the Flash Voyager® GO USB 3.0 flash drive in 64GB, 32GB, and 16GB capacities. The exceptionally lightweight, thumb-sized drive has both a USB and a Micro-USB connector, providing convenient data transfer and storage for PCs, notebooks, and Micro-USB OTG-compatible Android phones and tablets.

The Flash Voyager GO’s Micro-USB connector enables transfer of videos, music, and photos from and between OTG-compatible Android devices while the USB 3.0 connector enables easy and fast storage of those files to and between desktop and laptop computers. The drive also provides convenient storage expansion for OTG-compatible phones and tablets to free up precious device memory.

The Flash Voyager GO supports USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 for high-speed transfer speeds of up to 135 MB/s on PCs under Microsoft® Windows®, Mac OS® X, and Linux® with no additional software required. A durable keychain and two caps, one black and one yellow, are included.

“The Voyager Go is the next evolution in mobile storage devices. In addition to supporting PC to PC connectivity, the Voyager Go addresses the ever expanding mobile device ecosystem and also connects it to the PC world,” said Jeannie Khoo, product manager for USB flash drives at Corsair. “The Flash Voyager GO provides Android device users with one stop, immediate, cost-effective transfer and storage."

Pricing, Availability, and Warranty

The Flash Voyager GO flash drives will be available in January from Corsair’s worldwide network of resellers and distributors. They are backed by a 5-year warranty and Corsair's well-earned reputation for quality, compatibility, and performance.

Suggested retail pricing is as follows:

  • Flash Voyager GO 16GB: $19.99 USD

  • Flash Voyager GO 32GB: $29.99 USD

  • Flash Voyager GO 64GB: $49.99 USD

About Corsair

Founded in 1994, Corsair supplies high performance products purchased primarily by PC gaming enthusiasts who build their own PCs or buy pre-assembled customized systems. The company's award-winning products include DDR3 memory upgrades, USB flash drives, power supply units, solid-state drives, PC speakers, gaming headsets, gaming keyboards, laser gaming mice, system monitoring and control devices, PC cooling products, and computer cases.

Copyright © 2014 Corsair Components, Inc. All rights reserved. Corsair, the sails logo, and Flash Voyager are registered trademarks of Corsair in the United States and/or other countries. Apple, Mac, Mac OS, and OS X are trademarks of Apple. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Wi-Fi®is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. All other company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks, and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice.