Google Delays Modular Ara Phone

It might still be some time before the modular smartphone concept hits the market-- an unexpectedly long prototyping phase leads to Google delaying trial plans for the Project Ara to at least 2016.

Project ARaThe device was originally set to debut in Puerto Rico sometime on 2015. However according to a series of tweets from the development team such trials will take place next year at a different US location.

"Project Ara isn't going anywhere," the tweets say. However the device has been set back by "lots of iterations… more than we thought."

The Project Ara concept is fairly straightforward-- it consists of a Google-designed metal frame, into which users can slot 3rd party modules. The platform promises to free users from the obsolesce cycle, as one should be able to freely upgrade devices according to their requirements with a potentially infinite array of components.

The Puerto Rico trial was supposed to involve 20-30 Google-built modules.

Will 2016 finally be the year of the Lego-style DIY phone? We will only know once Google releases the device, unless the similarly long-teased modular competition (such as the Vsenn or PuzzlePhone) make it to the market first…

Go Project Ara (Twitter)