Google: modular phone coming in January 2015

Google’s modular Gray Phone, which the company is working on as part of Project Ara, should be available in January 2015 and will cost $50. In December, Android must be equipped with drivers for dynamic hardware.

Paul Eremenko, project leader at Google’s Ara division, gave more details about the plans at the first developer conference for the modular phone, according to CNet. He said that the name Gray Phone was chosen deliberately to emphasize that the base still has to be adapted to the wishes of the users.

Project Ara is a first step for Google and in the future it should be possible to purchase the hardware parts via, for example, Google Play, but 3D printing of parts should also play a major role in the initiative.

The Gray Phone will run Android and the drivers for dynamic hardware should be ready in December. The basis is a frame in which parts can be snapped magnetically and where communication takes place via UniPro. The frame should be able to function for five to six years, during which time users can upgrade parts themselves.