“Intel’s Thunderbolt high-speed interconnect has been shipping for over a year now, and new vendors have been announcing products compatible with the standard ever since,” Chris Foresman reports for Ars Technica. “One sticking point, however, has been that Thunderbolt devices require an expensive $50 cable—only available from Apple until recently. And unfortunately, prices aren’t coming down any time soon.”

“While other vendors are now offering their own Thunderbolt cables, prices have mostly stayed the same—in fact, some have gone up,” Foresman reports. “We found this surprising; typically more vendors offering competing products leads to lower prices. And as the high cable price represents a fairly high barrier to entry for Thunderbolt devices, it relegates the standard to niche, early-adopter territory.”

Foresman reports, “This isn’t likely to change in the near future. Our research shows that for the rest of 2012, Thunderbolt cables are going to remain in the $45-60 price range. Prices aren’t likely to drop noticeably until early 2013, when second-generation silicon for Thunderbolt’s active cabling becomes available in production quantities.”

Read more in the full article here.

Related articles:
Intel: Optical Thunderbolt cables coming this year – March 13, 2012
Thunderbolt isn’t just a faster USB – and Mac buyers see that – August 25, 2011
27-inch Apple Thunderbolt Display unveiled; world’s first Thunderbolt display – July 20, 2011
Apple’s Thunderbolt cable costs $49 because it’s smart – June 30, 2011
Apple releases $49 Apple Thunderbolt cable – June 28, 2011