What is OTG in mobile phones? Everything you need to know

OTG or On-The-Go is a term that refers to a feature called USB OTG. This was an important feature in early smartphones as it allowed the devices to act as a USB-accessible storage and control device.

What is OTG?

On-the-go, which technology started showing up in early smartphones, allows users to use their smartphones to access external USB devices such as game controllers and keyboards, and transfer data to and from USB drives. These features are so integral to the smartphone experience today that the term ‘OTG’ is no longer in widespread use.

OTG requirements

Early smartphones came with mini USB or micro USB ports and thus required a USB OTG adapter to interact with USB devices. These adapters allowed for the use of full-size USB-A devices with the smartphone.

ALSO READ: What is USB Type-C?

The USB-C ecosystem today is much larger, and so most USB accessories can be connected directly. If a USB-A device must be used, a USB-C to USB-A adapter is needed, but this is not referred to as an OTG cable today.

FAQs

– What devices are compatible with OTH?

A. Almost all USB accessories are compatible with OTG. This includes keyboards, printers, digital cameras, game controllers, and more.

– Is OTG still in use today?

A. Yes, but it’s now a core functionality of a modern smartphone and is usually not referred to as OTG.

USB OTG or On-The-Go functionality was an essential feature on early Android devices. Today, this functionality has largely been superseded by modern wireless protocols and the vast USB-C ecosystem.