After all, it was thought that Microsoft would waste money on a port that no one wanted, was difficult to integrate, cost a fortune and just confuse customers. This is the business model which Apple has followed for some time now.

But to be fair, Intel is also aware that Thunderbolt 3 is the red-headed step child of connections and there are roadblocks to adoption.

Today, Intel did its best to help the flailing technology along and get the standard adopted.

These changes include dropping royalty fees for the Thunderbolt protocol specification starting next year and integrating Thunderbolt 3 into future Intel CPUs.

The idea is that by subtracting the licensing costs for Thunderbolt 3 and integrating into the CPU, Intel can finally push mass adoption.

Vice President of the Intel Client Computing Group Chris Walker said: "With Thunderbolt 3 integrated into the CPU, computer makers can build thinner and lighter systems with only Thunderbolt 3 ports. For the first time, all the ports on a computer can be the same – any port can charge the system and connect to Thunderbolt devices, every display and billions of USB devices. Designs based on Intel's integrated Thunderbolt 3 solution require less board space and reduce power by removing the discrete component needed for existing systems with Thunderbolt 3."