Google Project Ara release date confirmed; Specifications, features emerge

In February this year, a purported Google Project Ara smartphone was spotted on GFXBench along with its specs. Now, the search engine giant has officially announced that the first Project Ara smartphone aimed towards developers will be arriving by the end of 2016. It has also confirmed that it would be available for general users by 2017.

During the ATAP (Advanced Technologies and Products) segment of the Google I/O 2016 event that took place last week, Google not only confirmed on the arrival of first Project Ara phone, but it also showcased the swappable modules that could easily attached and removed from the modular phone without restating it. The company also revealed users will be able to eject modules automatically by making use of voice commands.

Google is currently testing the Project Ara smartphone, with about 30 employees of the company currently using it as their main device, Wired reported. The developer variant of Project Ara will be arriving with a 5.3-inch display and it will be running on Android OS.

One needs to be aware of the fact that users will not be able to swap hardware components like display, CPU and battery that will come integrated in the frame of the first generation Project Ara smartphone. It will be equipped with six slots for adding modules. It will allow users to use modules on any of the available slots.

Leading firms such as Samsung, iHealth, Panasonic, TDK, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Toshiba and E Ink are already manufacturing modules for Project Ara smartphones. These companies are rumoured to be building different types of modules like screens, cameras, health trackers, external speakers and more. According to Google, the Project Ara will be a future proof smartphone that will allow its users to upgrade to latest components by simply swapping the modules.

Source: YouTube / Google ATAP