I am incredibly excited about this entire project, as it satisfies that nagging problem with mobile phone ownership: As soon as you have the best phone for you, a newer, better model is announced.
But what if your mobile didn't become out of date (or even obsolete) six months after you got it?
Google's Project Ara modular mobile phone system goes a long way to address that issue.
Need more RAM? A better camera? Faster processor? A bigger (or smaller) screen? Project Ara will create a mobile which stock items can be purchased and swapped, by the user, to upgrade their mobile if and when required.
Even repairs to broken or faulty components could be handled by replacing individual modules.
To be honest, Project Ara is just what I've been waiting for.
But, there is a downside to this. Smartphones are incredibly dull, especially now that every manufacturer has peaked in terms of design. Yes, you can put a better camera in and a faster processor (what about a two-day battery, anyone?), but all smartphones are very much the same - slabby, with ever-increasing screen sizes; but overall very boring.
Don't misinterpret this - I like smartphones, but provided that you buy one which isn't going to be obsolete within a year, and does what it's supposed to do without feeling the urge to hurl it at a wall, smartphones are boring.
Project Ara does have the potential to be a distinctive device. It won't be filled with pseudo-high-end class like HTC's mobile phones, but is an all metal rear cover really that beautiful? Even Vertu struggle to make an Android mobile look expensive.
Project Ara - "Be together. Not the same."
The individual modules will make this mobile stand out, and whilst it's not stunningly beautiful, it doesn't look like any mobile that has been created before.
When Project Ara finally reaches the market, I hope that Google will continue to support it by providing ongoing software upgrades. Too many Android phones get left behind when each annual Android version is released. A two year old Android is usually pretty useless these days, as app developers drop support for older devices much more quickly these days.
Also (and more importantly), not having the most up to date version of Android is now a major security risk.
Buying that two year old former flagship because it was a good price can leave you (and your company, if you BYOD) vulnerable to cybercrime.
Please, Google; give us at least some idea when Project Ara will be available. You told us that it would be this year, but I think that we can safely say that it's not going to be out in time for Christmas.
There is a danger that these modular mobiles might not be popular with the mobile network operators: They love to tie us in to 24 month contracts, with overpriced handsets and measly allowances. I've been amazed at how many people stay on a mobile contract when the term is over.
I've always upgraded, and sold my handset on, but since the dawn of SIM only contracts, this has been less of an issue.
But, customers still keep on paying out full price for a phone contract without acknowledging that they have "paid off the phone part" of the contract - O2's Refresh system goes a long way to address this problem, and it's commendable that they are open with their customers.
However, what if you never needed to get another contract handset because your Project Ara never really wore out? I don't think that the networks would be too happy if they realised that their customers were all moving over to SIM only contracts and upgrading their mobile's modules as and when needed.
But, this modular phone concept isn't for everyone. There will never be a modular iPhone, and I'm sure that some customers see an all-metal unibody as the pinnacle of desirability.
What if you want a modular phone right now?
Well, it's no Project Ara, but the Fairphone 2 is a modular phone that is available.
Engadget reported that the ethical mobile manufacturer Fairphone have announced their Fairphone 2.
Whilst it doesn't include swappable elements that you can upgrade, if it breaks, then the phone can be easily disassembled and replacement parts easily replaced by the user.
It's an ethical mobile, which seeks to minimise reliance upon conflict minerals that are used extensively in mobile phones. Plus, the fact that you can replace parts easily means that there should be no need to bin the phone if it breaks, which saves resources.
If you want a Fairphone 2, then The Co-op is the place to go (though it's at the pre-order stage, with stock expected in December).
The idea of modular phones is nothing new, and this gives me a great opportunity to reminisce about retro mobiles:
In 2009, Israeli mobile company Modu introduced their Modu mobile phone.
Even though it really did look very odd, I liked the concept. Unfortunately, I believe that it debuted at MWC but never made it to market outside of Israel. Plus, it arrived at the zenith of the feature phone era, when there really was so much great choice, and the iPhone and Android were rapidly gaining ground...
Modu mobile phone, with main handset in the middle, and swappable "jackets" either side
- Image courtesy of Mobile Gazette.
This tiny little handset was a basic call and text mobile, with a proprietary operating system and charging system - I'm not even sure if any PC connectivity was really considered.
On it's own, the handset was very basic, but you could insert it into a jacket-like sleeve and it would become a totally different mobile phone.
Inserting the Modu into the Fashion jacket
- Image courtesy of Mobile Gazette.
There were fashion jackets, sports jackets and a cameraphone jacket. Even by feature phone standards, this mobile was too limited. But, the idea was that you would pop your Modu into a jacket for taking to work, slide it into the sports jacket for taking to the gym, and slip it into the night jacket for taking it out on the town.
For a fuller rundown of Modu, take a look at the (much-missed) Mobile Gazette website.
This modular mobile never did make it, though Modu still exist and have yet another odd (and proprietary) mobile phone listed on their website.
I'm sure that some people will be swayed by the Fairphone 2's ethical policies, but when Google's Project Ara finally reaches the global markets, I sense that it will be very warmly received.
No modular mobile phone will ever sell in massive numbers, mainly because they strip back the smartphone to feature phone standards, but when mineral resources become limited, or then next billion people want to use Google, then I would say that the modular phone will find it's market - even if I would still love to have one myself.
