Interesting modular smartphone concept, Motorola's Ara project could sooner or later find application in reality.
Ultimately it answers a pertinent question: "what if instead of purchasing 4 distinct types of devices (phone, tablet, phablet, watch) you could 'assemble' a phone using only the parts you need each time?
It is an innovative but sensible vision, which could revolutionize the entire smartphone market: the tendency to renew an 'obsolete' mobile phone every year or two would be replaced by the upgrade or replacement of individual parts, which could be resold or (because no?) recycled by the same company.
A platform onto which compatible parts made by other companies could also be grafted. A bit like Android has done for software, in other words creating an ecosystem of 'third parties', facilitating their access to development and accelerating the pace of innovation.
Ara would be a sort of chassis, a 'skeleton' on which to mount the various modules: extra batteries, various displays and elements that allow for more extreme customization. In the coming months the project will leave the embryonic stage to bring a real development platform to those interested: Let's see what the idea of having an "Open Source" smartphone will lead to.
