USB branding is about to get confusing. The industry group guiding the technology has decided to mash together USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 under a new version number: USB 3.2.

At MWC, the USB Implementers Forum reportedly announced more details about the USB 3.2 specification, which will offer data transfer speeds of up to 20Gbps. Unfortunately, average consumers may be thrown off by the naming scheme the industry group has selected.

Going forward, the USB 3.2 specification will absorb all prior 3.x specifications, according to AnandTech. That means the older USB 3.0 standard, which offers 5Gbps speeds, will now be called USB 3.2 Gen 1. Meanwhile, USB 3.1, which offers 10Gbps speeds, will be rebranded USB 3.2 Gen 2.

The 20Gbps USB 3.2, on the other hand, will be called USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. The industry group decided on "2x2" because the upgraded USB technology doubles the data lanes within a USB Type-C cable to achieve the 20Gbps transfer speed.

Ironically, the USB Implementers Forum settled on the branding scheme to help prevent confusion in the marketplace, according to the group's documentation on the USB 3.2 specification. However, to make it easier for consumers to understand the new branding, USB Implementers Forum is telling vendors to clearly label the data transfer speeds for the products.

"To avoid consumer confusion, USB-IF's recommended nomenclature for consumers is 'SuperSpeed USB' for 5Gbps products, 'SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps' for 10Gbps products and 'SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps' for 20Gbps products," the document says.

Whether vendors follow the guidelines is another matter. There's no official word on when USB 3.2-related hardware will arrive. But the USB Implementers Forum told AnandTech the USB 3.2 controllers that can support the 20Gbps transfer speeds will be available this year. As a result, some motherboard makers might offer the 20Gbps USB ports in their products later in 2019.