Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects division (ATAP) announced at the Google I/O that it will release the developer version of the Project Ara modular smartphone in the fall of 2016. This will replace the Spiral 2 dev kit that was showcased last year. The consumer version of the Project Ara is further delayed and will only be available in 2017.
In the developer edition, all the base components that are required for a smartphone such as CPU, GPU, antennas, sensors, battery, and display come built into the body of Ara. The company says that it frees up more room for hardware in each module. The modular components include, camera and speakers and other additional modules such as fingerprint reader, an extra display or some innovative modules such as a glucometer that can be created by developers.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWW5mQadZAY
Ara will have an open marketplace for module developers to create and sell additions to the phone. Some of the developer partners include, Panasonic, Toshiba, iHealth, TDK, winstron, Eink, Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Sony Pictures.
Google says that the consumer version will be slimmer compared to the developer version, as you can see in the image above. Developers can signup for the Google Project Ara Developer Edition on the ATAP website.