Google To Test Modular Phone In Puerto Rico

(RTTNews) - Google Inc (GOOG, GOOGL) plans to launch a modular smartphone this year in Puerto Rico as part of a pilot program.

The ambitious program envisages a modular phone that would enable a user to to swap components, as against the mostly prevailing practice of disposing off a phone for a new one.

Apart from a money-saving perspective, the launch of the phone would enable consumers to choose and customize their phone as per their preference for a range of components.

The search engine giant contends that swappable components would be affordable and grants consumers the option to customize their phone.

The plans to launch the modular phone was announced at Google's second Project Ara Developers Conference in Mountain View, California.

Google's plan is to come out with a device comprising a modular screen, keyboard, battery and microprocessor that are interchangeable and may be added or replaced at the user's convenience. The phone shell consists of a frame into which modules can be inserted, adding, removing or upgrading functionality.

Google believes Puerto Rico to be an ideal destination for the phone's launch due to the pervasive technology; about half the population have smartphones and three-fourths of Internet users access the web from mobile devices.

Another reason why Puerto Rico figures in Google's scheme of things is that the Caribbean island operates under U.S. Federal Communications Commission regulations.

Google will partner with Mexico-based carrier Claro and local carrier Open Mobile to offer the modular phone, which is expected to be sold from free-standing stores.