Project Ara reveals some interesting prospects

For those who are not aware Project Ara is the fruition of a much fabled modular phone, a phone with interchangeable parts. The idea of being able to add functionality to your phone by purchasing a module, be it a larger screen, better camera or some such and clicking it into the appropriate bay. Project Ara developers’ conference is currently taking place at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA. An exciting announcement yesterday was their first Project Ara “gray phone” will launch in January of 2015 for $50. Quite a bit aways although it’s great to have is on the map, for now.

To spice things up there is $100,000 up for grabs for one lucky developer who comes up with the best module. Obviously the will really help as an incentive to push creativity beyond standard bluetooth, camera and wifi modules. Developers will be judged on novelty, functionality, elegance, quality, impact, and commercial potential. Two runner ups will be receiving all-expense paid trips for up to 3 people to the next Project Ara devcon and will be guaranteed hardware for their project.

The challenge will kick off in May, Google will make available around 100-200 units of the prototype hardware to developers and it will draw to a close in mid- September.