Taiwan-based VIA Labs has grabbed USB 3.0 hub controller orders for docking stations from Lenovo, with shipments kicking off in the third quarter, according to industry sources. Monthly shipments are initially set at about 500,000 units, said the sources.

VIA Labs with its USB 3.0 hub controllers is also expected to enter the supply chain for a new Dell tablet, due for release in the second half of 2013, the sources indicated. VIA Labs' solutions are currently in the design-in stage with the PC vendor, the sources added.

VIA Labs' hub controllers are already USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum) certified.

VIA Labs and its fellow Taiwan-based peers, including ASMedia Technology and Genesys Logic, have put an increasing focus on their products for hubs, flash drives and other peripherals while paying less attention to host products. Demand for independent USB 3.0 host controllers has been negatively affected by the availability of Intel's new chips with native USB 3.0 support.