Back in 2008 Toshiba announced it was working on a new wireless data transfer system called TransferJet and has iterated the design and shrunk the size since then. The main draw was the promise of data transfers averaging 375Mbps, but potentially reaching 560Mbps without need of a cable. That sounds great for getting large files to and from a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet.
Just like NFC, TransferJet requires two devices be in close proximity (3cm or less) in order to perform a data transfer. And until TransferJet becomes a feature included as standard in devices, you’re also going to need adapters to enable it. Toshiba has therefore rolled out two such adapters.
A Micro USB and standard USB 2.0 TransferJet adapter have just been released in Japan.
Toshiba released two versions to allow one to be plugged into a PC or laptop, while the other is compatible with many smartphones and tablets. Use them both together and you have very fast data transfers from one device to another.
As for price, it’s high for an adapter but not ridiculous. You can expect to pay around $40 for either type, but those prices should fall as TransferJet becomes more popular. Just keep in mind you’ll need to buy two for the transfers to works. You’re also going to need some software to allow TransferJet to function. According to Toshiba’s Japanese website, Android 4.0 onwards and Windows 7/8 are currently supported.
It’s possible TransferJet could become a feature integrated into smartphones and tablets, but it would have to shrink in size to be considered. As it is just a chip, that’s easily possible in the near future.
