Google Ara Project: Video By Phonebloks' Dave Hakkens Showcases Modular Phone Prototype, Companion App Introduced As Well

Google Ara Project: Back in September, we were intrigued by a campaign which aims to develop a modular phone, a smartphone whose parts can easily be replaced by others in order to upgrade or repair the phone. Back then, this theory is so cool that it could develop future-proof smartphones and bring them to our hands. 

A couple of months later, Motorola started working on it. 

A couple of months ago, it was bought by Lenovo, though reports say Google decided to take over the project, naming it Google Ara. 

Now, after months of development, the team has already made a prototype. Phonebloks mastermind Dave Hakkens met with the Google Ara team and brought his camcorder along to capture what could be the future of mobile devices. 

In the clip, we can see that the modular phone will be packed with 'electro-permanent' magnets which do not require electricity in order to function. What's pretty impressive with this technology is that it firmly attaches the particular component to the smartphone's base even without any securing locks. 

It would only be detached if a person detached it from the base. So that answers questions such as 'what if the components fall of the base' or 'are those components safe'. 

In addition to the prototype of Google Ara, the meeting also unveiled an application specially designed to work on the smartphone, which could very well run on Android. 

Dubbed as Ara Configurator App, it will help the user in managing the different components which he will attach and detach from the base of the phone. The app is currently under development by Google and Sosolimited, and would possibly be available in the device. 

So less than a year after the Phonebloks concept, here were are and talking about its potential release date. Are you excited for this one of a kind mobile device? 

Here's the clip: