A male connector for mating with a corresponding female connector by applying pressure along an insertion axis (A - A'); the male connector comprising: a contact pad substrate; and a connector shell; wherein the contact pad substrate comprises a linear array of contact pads including two outermost contact pads (103a, 103d) and two innermost contact pads (103b, 103c), wherein the two innermost contact pads (103b, 103c) have a pitch of 2.0 millimeters and the pitch between each innermost contact pad (103b, 103c) and its nearest outermost contact pad (103a, 103d) is 2.5 millimeters for aligning with corresponding contacts (103'a, 103'b, 103'c, 103'd) of a contact-bearing tongue of the corresponding female connector that conforms to a USB Series A receptacle contact pad pitch specification; wherein the connector shell comprises a tubular portion for insertion into the corresponding female connector, and a handling portion for handling during insertion; wherein the tubular portion includes an end face having an opening that defines an entrance to a cavity, which cavity extends along the insertion axis (A - A') for receiving within the tubular portion the contact-bearing tongue of the corresponding female connector; wherein the contact pad substrate is disposed within the cavity such that the contact pads (103a, 103b, 103c, 103d) of the linear array are distributed transversely with respect to the end face, and such that the contact pads are exposed within the cavity for making electrical contact with the corresponding contacts (103'a, 103'b, 103'c, 103'd) of the contact-bearing tongue of the female connector when the male connector is mated with the female connector, characterized in that: the two outermost contact pads (103a, 103d) are electrically connected together, and the connector shell is formed from an insulating material. a contact pad substrate; and a connector shell; wherein the contact pad substrate comprises a linear array of contact pads including two outermost contact pads (103a, 103d) and two innermost contact pads (103b, 103c), wherein the two innermost contact pads (103b, 103c) have a pitch of 2.0 millimeters and the pitch between each innermost contact pad (103b, 103c) and its nearest outermost contact pad (103a, 103d) is 2.5 millimeters for aligning with corresponding contacts (103'a, 103'b, 103'c, 103'd) of a contact-bearing tongue of the corresponding female connector that conforms to a USB Series A receptacle contact pad pitch specification; wherein the connector shell comprises a tubular portion for insertion into the corresponding female connector, and a handling portion for handling during insertion; wherein the tubular portion includes an end face having an opening that defines an entrance to a cavity, which cavity extends along the insertion axis (A - A') for receiving within the tubular portion the contact-bearing tongue of the corresponding female connector; wherein the contact pad substrate is disposed within the cavity such that the contact pads (103a, 103b, 103c, 103d) of the linear array are distributed transversely with respect to the end face, and such that the contact pads are exposed within the cavity for making electrical contact with the corresponding contacts (103'a, 103'b, 103'c, 103'd) of the contact-bearing tongue of the female connector when the male connector is mated with the female connector, characterized in that: the two outermost contact pads (103a, 103d) are electrically connected together, and the connector shell is formed from an insulating material. the two outermost contact pads (103a, 103d) are electrically connected together, and the connector shell is formed from an insulating material.