I was involved in discussions and part of the decision loop. Then a very big and leading mobile phone maker asked for it, even designed most part with a leading connector maker. USB IF eventually bite the bullet and accepted. Probably 2B+ of these connectors are shipped to date.
Frank's answer, given in 2011, seemed most interesting to me. Scroll a little further and he names Nokia as the driving force.
Frank's answer, given in 2011, seemed most interesting to me. Scroll a little further and he names Nokia as the driving force.