Google to introduce US$50 smartphone that users can customise

[abdul2]

Google’s ambitious modular smartphone concept, an attempt to disrupt the market dominated by Apple and Samsung, could be available in January 2015 for as little as $50.

Paul Eremenko, Google’s Project Ara head, told attendees of its developer conference that the modular device is scheduled to go on sale in January next year and will be essentially just a frame, screen, Wi-Fi connection and processor – ready for users to customise with different plug-in modules, colours and accessories.

“It’s called the Grey Phone because it’s meant to be drab grey to get people to customise it,” said Eremenko.

Project Ara is Google’s attempt to make a mobile device where the major components, including the camera, speakers, GPS and other common features of modern smartphones, can be swapped out for new ones, mixing and matching modules to customise the phone to do what the user needs it to do.

At the developer conference, the Ara team fleshed out their vision and a timeframe for development for the modular device, attempting to attract developers for both hardware and software to jump on-board the project.

The core frame of the Grey phone will be built to last around five to six years, according to Eremenko, allowing users to upgrade their phones steadily, buying cheap individual components like a better camera, improved Bluetooth or new 4G radio from an app store-like shop.

Google to introduce US$50 smartphone that users can customise | Al-Rasub

 

[Dubious]

Thats a better idea to upgrade a component than a whole phone

 

[Fracker]

well, I am following "Project ara" for some time now. And I think it is bent to fail. Since Cell Phone are normally used for not more than a year or so. How they will bring durability into the phone. Also, how they will force the companies, like intel, snapdragon etc to build the process as per their standard, similarly glass, camera, etc companies? It's kind of cool idea for perfect smartphone world.