Google has confirmed that its Project Ara modular phone will be piloted in Puerto Rico this year.
In a video posted on Youtube, and in a statement on its Google+ account, the US-headquartered multinational teased some of the phone’s features and revealed the location of first release.
Project Ara allows users to customise their phone through its replaceable and swappable components. Once a customer has bought the basic model, they can upgrade the same phone by adding on more advanced modules as they see fit.
Modules will be available through Google’s own stores; however, there will also be the possibility for developers to produce their own modules.
The device is targeted at non-smartphone users, with the module functionality aiming to prevent phones from becoming obsolete.
A prototype of an Ara smartphone was demonstrated at 2014’s Google I/O, the California software conference, but the device encountered problems when booting.
If the trend catches on, we may be seeing modular technology in other places. At CES last week, the Blocks modular smartwatch was shown off, which is expected to be on sale before the end of the year.
