Earlier in the year, an intriguing concept came forth that could change the way we think about our smartphones and how we will use it in the future. Imagine having a smartphone with modules that can all be swopped and replaced, allowing you to upgrade certain parts of your phone at will. You would be able to concentrate on what you find important in your device. If you like photography, install a better camera module; if you prefer more storage for all your music and apps you can rather include that. The concept is called Phonebloks.
Motorola have taken up the idea and started working with Phonebloks creator Dave Hakkens. In what Motorola calls Project Ara, the advanced Technology and Products group is working with Dave Hakkens on an “endoskeleton (endo) and modules.” Announced this evening on the company blog by Paul Eremenko, the company says it’s already “done deep technical work” and is opening the process up to the community and volunteers to begin designing hardware modules.
Suggestions for modules include the phone’s CPU, display, extra battery, external sensors or anything else one can think of. The timeline currently points to a Module Developer’s Kit (MDK) release early next year, while those volunteers can expect an exclusive discount when the product launches and the 100 most active are getting free phones. Hakkens has described his design as a “phone worth keeping” — with the ability to upgrade piece by piece and (hopefully) never experience obsolescence again we’d call this idea a phone definitely worth building.
Source: Motorola
