Google is attempting to revolutionize the smartphone industry with its Project Ara modular smartphone, which it will be launching in Puerto Rico as a pilot launch.
Google has also recently announced one of the first creators of modules for the new device, a company called Yezz.
Project Ara is a new platform that allows users to create their own smartphones through purchasing modules rather than full phones. This is great because it's cheaper for the user and should also allow a user to keep their phone for longer.
For example, as technology evolves, users can upgrade parts such as processors or storage rather than the whole phone. Not only that, but someone who is really into photography might want to focus their money on buying high-tech camera modules, while someone who has a lot of media might first want to upgrade their storage.
This could completely change the "one size fits all" mentality surrounding the smartphone industry and will really allow users to personalize their smartphone experience.
Yezz is the first of what is expected to be many manufacturers creating Ara modules. As more companies begin to create modules, more options and possibilities will become available to users.
While it is unclear how much Project Ara modules will cost, the idea is that they will be much cheaper than purchasing new phones.
Yezz operates in Miami but counts Latin America as one of its main markets, which is likely the reason that Google has approached the company as one of its first module creators.
It is not known if Yezz will find success in the U.S. market once Project Ara is finally brought to the masses, but it is likely that users who want modules from Yezz will be able to get their hands on them somehow.
It is also not certain yet if Yezz's components will end up seeing a commercial release. We will probably see demo units of the components to show off how Ara is to work, but that certainly doesn't mean that they will be available for purchase, even during the pilot program in Puerto Rico.
Google has not given a date for Project Ara just yet, but Yezz has announced that it has already created around 100 Ara prototype modules from factories in the U.S. and China.
Project Ara will be shown off at this year's Mobile World Congress event on March 2. We don't know exactly when it will be brought to the U.S., but when it does, it's sure to make a splash.
