Google has unveiled a working prototype of its highly anticipated Project Ara modular smartphone. A pilot program will be run wherein the phone will be trialed in Puerto Rico in the second half of 2015.
Project Ara essentially allows you to create your own smartphone by putting together different parts and components, such as the processor, memory, camera, speakers, etc. For example, if you want a really powerful processor but couldn't care less about the camera, you can put together a phone that meets those specific needs of yours, allowing you to save your money and get maximum value from your smartphone.
Project Ara also makes it easy to upgrade your phone -- rather than getting rid of it, you can simply incorporate new modules to access upgrades and new features.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Modular Smartphones
- Project Ara enables consumers to create customized smartphones by assembling different parts, providing disruptive innovation opportunities for the smartphone industry.
- Customizability
- The ability to personalize devices through module selection and assembly opens up avenues for disruptive innovation in consumer electronics.
- Upgradeability
- Project Ara's modular design allows for easy incorporation of new modules, presenting disruptive innovation potential in the smartphone industry.
Where This Applies
- Smartphone Manufacturing
- The modular smartphone trend offers the smartphone manufacturing industry an opportunity to redefine their production processes and consumer offerings.
- Consumer Electronics
- Customizable and upgradeable devices provide a disruptive innovation opportunity for the consumer electronics industry to create new product categories.
- Mobile Accessories
- The modular smartphone trend presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the mobile accessories industry to develop specialized modules catering to specific user needs.
