Interesting idea. Only things I don't like about that is that you lose a 120v outlet, and the USB ports are only rated to 700mA, meaning it couldn't charge a large device like an iPad or Nook Tablet. Even a standard Apple USB charger supplies 1A.

One of my teachers talked about those at school recently! The only problem at the moment is the price, they're horribly expensive from what I've heard!

They are only $18 but I guess in terms of receptacles that is horribly expensive.

Well it's around the same price as what you would pay for a GFCI at the box store, only problem I have is what icefoglights said, it takes up one outlet and the output current is a bit low.

As well it is on all the time, so will likely fail in a year or less. No way are you going to get quality components into that small space, and they will be toasted by their own heat as well.

I also saw ones that have both outlets with 2 of those USB in the middle area.....(where normally GFCI reset buttons would be). That one was the first design I saw.....

Now that's cool! Great idea!

Would the outlet have to have an AC adapter/Transformer in it? They are small enough to fit in an electric box..

Electronic transformer....

Here is one that has 2 regular outlets and 2 USB ports. Pretty pricey though.

Since USB is getting pretty popular to charge things, I see why they are making things like this.

My only concern is that these might not last very long, especially if you plugged high current devices into them which would cause a lot of heat, and small electronics seem to have issues with heat. Those other ones cost quite a bit more than these plus look a bit strange, I think this would fit better into the modern house with the decora style .

this one is what I'm talking about and I think its better looking....

^ I would agree it's better looking.

I think it looks about equally as good as this one, the only thing is it requires a special wall plate.

Apparently the USB outlet design Jace linked to was an earlier design of the one I linked to which was redesigned because of UL issues.

Possible example of SOPA laws....the SOPA laws are sooo tricky and full of it that even if you are not making money...it could be violating the SOPA laws.

I saw one of those USB outlets at Bestbuy before, it was the style that I linked to in my last comment and it was almost 40 bucks.

That's rather expensive, I saw one at Home Depot the other week that was actually a fake, it was a box that looked like a receptacle but actually plugged in to the outlet behind it, seems tacky to me but I guess it is for people who don't want to mess with electrical (and quite frankly shouldn't...)

I've seen kind that's built into a power tap, like this.