Google's modular smartphone, Project Ara, could go on sale next year for $50

Google's modular smartphone, Project Ara, could arrive in early 2015 and cost just $50. For $50 you'd only get a bare-bones Project Ara endoskeleton, of course -- you don't even get a display, I think-- but it's still a very exciting prospect, especially when you factor in the imminent release date. Early 2015 is a lot sooner than any of us were expecting. The utopian concept of having a single phone that you continuously upgrade over a few years, rather than wastefully replace in its entirety, could soon be a reality.

We originally wrote about Project Ara back in October 2013. Back then, it was just an intriguing promise and some exciting concept art. Now, according to a report from Time(Opens in a new window), Google's Advanced Technology And Projects (ATAP) group (acquired from Motorola) has reached the working prototype stage. We are led to believe that, in the photo at the top of the story, those components actually combine to create a real, working smartphone. The video below appears to confirm this.

Along with the working prototype, Google's ATAP is now also talking about pricing -- and, interestingly, different form factors. The initial target is to sell a barebones endoskeleton for $50 at convenience stores. This phone will have a WiFi module, an emergency battery... and that's it. To add more functionality, you would buy more modules (a screen, camera, some NAND flash storage, cellular modem) and slot them in. There will also be three sizes -- mini, medium, and jumbo -- with "jumbo" equating to roughly phablet sized. While Google intends to open up the modules to third parties, the endoskeletons will always be Google-branded. (They have to make their money somehow.) As it currently stands, ATAP is hoping that the commercialized modules will be 4mm thick, resulting in a phone that is 10mm thick. This isn't going to be as svelte as the latest iPhone (7.6mm), but it'll still be thin enough.

Now, the concept of a modular computer isn't exactly new (have a look inside your desktop PC sometime; almost every part is replaceable) -- but building a modular device that's as small, thin, and light as a smartphone is another beast entirely. Google says that there will be a "manager" app on the smartphone that controls some kind of locking mechanism, which keeps the modules from popping out when the phone is dropped or twisted. The modules on the front are latched on, while the rear modules use electropermanent magnets (permanent magnets that can be switched off with electricity). It seems there are then some (customizable) 3D-printed plastic module enclosures that go on the back, for extra protection. I am still a bit dubious about how rugged these devices will be. (Read: There can only be one: Smartphones are the PCs of the future.)

ATAP will hold a series of conferences in April where it will try to convince hardware makers to develop modules for Project Ara smartphones. This is perhaps the most exciting bit about Project Ara: No one, including Google, knows what modules might emerge. A fingerprint scanner, a blood sugar sensor for diabetics, a thermal imaging camera, a microcontroller or FPGA that allows you to directly control your homebrew electronics -- really, anything is possible. Project Ara's leader, Paul Eremenko, jokes that an on-phone incense burner would be possible.

Even in non-wacky use cases, a modular smartphone would be very useful. Imagine if, when your primary battery runs low, you could slide your camera module out and slot in a secondary battery. Alternatively, if you were going on holiday, you might remove the cellular modem and slot in a larger camera, or more flash storage. (Read: The future: Upgradeable smartphones.)