Many external disk are connected to the computer via USB 2.0 interface, but here the power ensured by USB can not be sufficient, and external devices are supplied with either their own power unit or with additional power cable.
Yesterday Sata-io organization reported that in the second-half 2008 it is going to present standard Power Over eSATA, which allow to transfer information and to give external drive power using one cable. This port will preserve compatibility with the existing interface eSATA, the maximum transmission speed will remain equal to 3 Gbit/s.
It is expected that the first devices with support of Power Over eSATA will appear in the second half-year.