Yes, SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) is a newer and more compact form factor compared to GBIC (Gigabit Interface Converter). Both SFP and GBIC are types of optical transceiver modules used in networking equipment to interface with fiber optic or copper cables.

Here's a brief timeline:

1. GBIC (Gigabit Interface Converter): GBIC was one of the earlier standards for optical transceivers. It was larger in size compared to later form factors and was widely used for Gigabit Ethernet and other networking applications.

2. SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable): SFP was introduced as a more compact and hot-swappable alternative to GBIC. It reduced the size and allowed for greater port density on networking equipment. SFP modules are about half the size of GBIC modules.

3. SFP+ (Enhanced Small Form-factor Pluggable): SFP+ is an enhanced version of SFP that supports higher data rates, commonly used for 10 Gigabit Ethernet and beyond.

4. QSFP (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable): QSFP is another evolution, supporting even higher data rates and often used in data center environments for high-speed connections.

In summary, SFP is a newer and more compact form factor compared to GBIC, providing advantages in terms of size and flexibility. As technology has advanced, other form factors like SFP+ and QSFP have been introduced to meet the demand for higher data rates and increased performance.