Couple of months ago Google started a project named Project Ara, a modular smartphone development project. Although Google gets most of the credit of the project, Toshiba is also working behind the sense to turn this dream project of modular smartphones into reality. The main chips that makes the Project Ara possible is made by Toshiba.
The Project Ara works with the help of two different chips, one is a switch chip that makes it possible to swap different modules of the phone and another is bridge chip that allows to connect different component modules to the rest of the phone. Google has full rights to the switch chip, but bridge chip can be sold by Toshiba to any other company who are interested to make modules of Project Ara.
Toshiba is also planning to sell specific modules of Project Ara beside switch chip. Toshiba already unveiled swappable camera for device, and is already working on other modules of the phone. The company is also suggesting expansion of Project Ara to other general types of devices.
We are just extremely excited to see what Toshiba and other companies will come up with for Project Ara. Till now there is no plan for the modular smartphones project, Project Ara to release for the general public, though Google stated it has plan for pilot test in Puerto Rico this year.
