Google Reveals Most Advanced Prototype of Project Ara, To Launch Modular Smartphones In Puerto Rico This Year

Second Project Ara developer conference was held Wednesday, where Google showcased its most advanced prototype of Project Ara - an open hardware platform for creating highly modular smartphones.

The search giant also announced that it will run a beta program in Puerto Rico this year, where consumers can get the hands on the product.

Project Ara aims to create a platform for building modular smartphones, where consumers can swap out individuals components, e.g., camera, battery, processor, without replacing the entire device.

The showcased prototype at the developer's conference was Spiral 2, capable of making 3G phone calls. Reportedly, Google has 11 prototype modules but it plans to bring in more partners on the board.

The next version of Spiral will be upgraded to 4G LTE functionality, equipped with improved antennas "significantly improving the performance," Google added.

Smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung, centre production around a flagship model which they launch annually, and urge users to upgrade. Whereas Project Ara completely wants to move away from the entire smartphone upgrade cycle and instead, it focuses on replacing the modules of the smartphones, whenever necessary.

Google plans to sell its first Project Ara smartphone in style, which is by deploying "mobile trucks" where customers will be able to design print and assemble their own custom handset in under five minutes.