Introduction of combined analog/digital input/output modules often reduced the amount of modules needed to implement particular I/O requirements. Still, even if only two modules were required, the whole DataLab IO⁴ device had to be used. New DataLab IO² unit allows implementation of the same functionality for less money and on the half of the DIN-rail space.

Because the power requirements of many modules multiplied by two exceed the capabilities of single USB connection (500 mA), the new DataLab IO² unit also incorporates the same power supply as the DataLab IO⁴ device. The user can choose if the device is USB-powered or if he/she provides external power supply from 10 to 40V DC.

The core technology of the whole family of DataLab IO devices is just moving from USB 1.1 to USB 2.0 standard. The USB core of the DataLab IO² device is the first one operating at USB 2.0 High Speed data rate (480 Mbps). This brings not only lower overhead of the host PC, but also approximately 10× better round-trip-time. The typical response time of USB 2.0 DataLab IO devices shortened from several milliseconds to several hundreds of microseconds.

Although all DataLab IO devices either already implements USB 2.0 or will implement it in very short time, they remain backward-compatible with USB 1.1 Full Speed host computers, extenders and hubs. Only the module response prolongs to the previous technology levels.