Designed exclusively for 6 billion people, Project Ara is the code name for an initiative that aims to develop an open hardware platform for creating highly modular smartphones.

It happens that we tend to dump away phones if some or the other part fails to function, this means we dump all the other working parts with it too. Google’s this idea to create a phone where its part were easily replaced gives flexibility to retain same phone by just replacing it’s dis functioning part this is what Project Ara is all about!

Cool things about these smartphones : 

Modular Design : By creating a phone that can have each component changed, Google believes it will drive down hardware pricing while allowing users to pick and choose what they want, Also giving them option to swap out malfunctioning modules or upgrade individual modules as per latest technology and innovations.

Highly Customizable : Where one person may want to spend more money on a high power camera, another may wish to splash out on more memory. Whatever the desired goal a user should be able to modify their device to suit that need.

Less Expensive : An entry-level Ara device is expected to be in the $50-100 range, where basic $50 kit will include a frame, display, battery, low-end CPU and WiFi.

Open to be adopted : Google is providing Module Developers Kit (MDK) that defines the Ara platform for module developers and provides reference implementations for various design features. Google wants any developer to be able to create modules for its Ara device, meaning kit you might have seen on Kickstarter in the past as a standalone device could go directly into your Ara phone in the future.

The Ara platform : It consists of an on-device packet-switched data network based on the MIPI UniPro protocol stack, a flexible power bus, and an elegant industrial design that mechanically unites the modules with an endoskeleton.

What is the launch date for it ?

The initial testing of prototypes was scheduled in year 2015 but then it was posponed to mid 2016, Google did came out with a prototype name Spiral 2 from their modular smartphone series.

What are the specs for Spiral 2 ?

The new Project Ara Spiral 2 prototype features a

• HD (720×1280 pixels) screen
• Choice of Nvidia Tegra K1 or Marvel PX1928 processor
• 5-megapixel primary camera
• Micro-USB port
• Battery
• Speaker
• Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 3G.

Google revealed that the Spiral 2 prototype includes 11 working modules as of now; though claimed that it plans to add up to 20-30 by end of the year.

Google also has explained what we can expect for Spiral 3, the next Project Ara prototype. It will feature an inductive data connection on the phone so modules and the endo can communicate with no actual contact. Spiral 3 will also support 4G/LTE.

Surely by creating a phone that can have each component changed, Google believes it will drive down hardware pricing while allowing users to pick and choose what they want. That’s what Google’s Project Ara – a modular smartphone – aims to do.