Google is reinventing the Smartphone as we know it with Project Ara: a customisable Smartphone that might be the last you ever need to buy. This innovative project aims to allow users to create a modular phone that is tailored to their functional and aesthetic preferences. The main components of the phone will be interchangeable, held in place by electro-permanent magnets. The device will have a basic frame, and the modules will act like the building blocks making up the majority of the phone’s functionalities and features.
Modules can include any mobile component imaginable, including cameras, batteries, wireless connectivity, speakers, displays and perhaps even elements that have never before been available with a mobile device; Google is reportedly offering a $100,000 prize incentive to developers to come up with something that a phone has never done before.
Google plans to have between 20 and 30 modules available by the time it launches the pilot in Puerto Rico this year. Although it is not yet an official Android device, the Project Ara phone is expected to run the Android operating system. Paul Eremenko, the technical lead for Project Ara, suggested that Android will need “changes” to support the flexibility of a modular phone and that this will be a “stress test” for the operating system.
The modular design aims to increase the lifespan of the device because it allows users to replace individual parts, rather than the entire phone. The Ara phone could break the annual cycle of obsolescence, allowing users to invest in new modules as and when they choose, or even swap them with family and friends.
Google is expected to release an entry-level device first, costing between $50-100, with higher-end handsets to follow. It is expected that module developers will be able to set the price for their modules which will be sold in the Ara Module Marketplace, much like apps in an app store.
Project Ara does have it critics, who remain unconvinced that this phone will have mass-market appeal. Google will need to attract enough module developers to sustain the kind of global retail presence it needs to make this ambitious project a success.
Although the phones won’t be 3D printed in the near term, Google are taking steps in that direction. And, with technological advancements, people may one day be able to print parts for their modular phone at home!
We think the concept has potential to be a success in the world of business communications. Businesses are increasingly turning to mobile communications to support the growing demand for flexible, mobile and remote working. With a customisable device, companies will be able to tailor their handsets to their exact usage requirements. For example, a business that requires frequent use of a camera could invest in the highest spec camera module; companies that depend on mobiles with a long battery life could invest in a battery that will last several days. When it comes to upgrades, businesses could save a fortune by only upgrading the relevant modules to suit the changing needs of their growing business. Employees working in different departments could have their mobile devices tailored to their disparate needs, enhancing their ability to fulfil their respective roles. Ultimately, the Ara phone could prove a cost-effective solution for business mobile communications.
Project Ara is still in the developmental stages, with a limited pilot this year, so there’s no news yet as to when this device will be available for purchase. As one of the most exciting technology stories this year, we’re keen to follow its development so watch this space for more information.