Radio Frequency (RF) & Wireless Design

Created by Steven Minichiello on 27 April, 2018

Do you think Google should restart the ARA (modular phone) Program ?

I was digging for various mobile phone technologies and came across the Google Project ARA modular phone :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Ara


Some GrabCAD members liked it ! :




I was fascinated by the fact that it could be a modular platform in which users could configure the phone with modules just like an embedded developer of Ardunio would do with 'Shields' or Raspberry Pi developers would do with 'Hats'.

https://www.wired.com/2015/01/wild-concept-sensors-googles-modular-phone/


One of the best features was bringing back the ability to replace the battery or swap it out with larger battery packs.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/google-project-ara-hands-on-rafa-camargo-interview-modular-phones/


I was disappointed to learn that the project was killed off after just a year.

https://www.gizmochina.com/2019/10/10/tech-throwback-thursday-how-googles-modular-smartphone-dream-was-killed/


It seems that google is keeping the project on 'life-support' as it issued another patent :

https://www.patentlyapple.com/2020/06/googles-one-time-modular-smartphone-project-is-refusing-to-die-as-a-newly-granted-patent-is-keeping-it-on-life-support.html


What are your thoughts on this project and would you want it revived or do you think it is not needed ?


Also there was a kickstarter campaign called Nexpac that tried to revive the modular cell phone :

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nexpaq/nexpaq-the-first-truly-modular-smartphone-case