Even though modular smartphones were proposed in the early days of the smartphone, the idea gained particular prominence in the early 2010s after Motorola, which was then owned by Google, decided to kickstart a project to create the world’s first mass-produced modular smartphone. Google called the mission “Project Ara” which, incidentally, was also a part of Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group.
Project Ara received the go-ahead in 2013, and the Google and Motorola teams spent countless hours perfecting the recipe for modular smartphones. Initial progress was rapid, and the team even developed a prototype of the first modular phone in April 2015. Called the ‘Spiral 1,’ this prototype featured a basic frame that could accommodate modular components. A year later, the Project Ara team developed the Spiral 2, which was a more refined version of the Spiral 1 with a larger, better display.
While there was considerable media interest around Google’s first two modular prototypes, the company soon determined that the feasibility and commercial viability of modular phones was questionable. A little over a year after Google showcased the Spiral 2, the company officially announced that it was canceling Project Ara and, along with it, Google’s famed ATAP group.
Despite the setbacks, however, some companies — albeit smaller in size and with fewer resources than Google — are still working on developing a modular smartphone that does it all.
For all the latest Games News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
