The PuzzlePhone is a modular smartphone being designed in Finland by a company called Circular Devices. The idea is that users will be able to switch out old or broken parts easily so they can keep the same device for a decade.

In other words, Circular Devices it’s phone will work much like another modular smartphone, Google’s upcoming Project Ara.

puzzlephone-turq-520x520

Circular Devices was in attendance at the 4YFN (Four Years From Now) conference, which took place in tandem with the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The company was there to share updates to the PuzzlePhone’s progress.

One big step forward in the device’s production is Circular Devices’ recent partnership with Spanish manufacture ImasD. The company created Click ARM (Advanced Removable Modules) technology, which allows manufacturers to create modular devices. ImasD just launched the first modular tablet at 4YFN. The Click ARM One tablet starts at about $333 and is limited to 1000 units.

Click Arm modules

ImasD’s Click ARM technology will allow PuzzlePhone owners to swap smartphone and tablet modules and even use the same parts in future tech gadgets.

The PuzzlePhone is made up of three modules – the battery, the display, and the electronics, which is supported by the Click Arm platform. Circular devices’ goal is to create a smartphone that is open in both software and hardware so that it’s owner can easily repair and partially upgrade it as technology advances, without having to replace the entire phone.

Circular Devices also announced partnerships with Grant4Com, AT&S, Fraunhofer IZM, and OgilvyOne Barcelona. These partnerships, according to Circular Devices CEO Alejandro Santacreu, will keep the company on track to bring the PuzzlePhone to market on schedule later this year.

via The Next Web

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10 replies on “PuzzlePhone modular smartphone gets Click ARM technology”

  1. Not seeing enough modules. To keep a platform alive more than a couple of years you really need the following minimum:

    1. Display + audio subsystem + mic, USB/HDMI port, headphone, charge circuit, etc.
    2. Battery
    3. CPU/RAM
    4. FLASH/SD
    5. Radios. Cell standards, WiFi and BT are fast evolving. SIM slot on/in radio module?
    6. Camera(s), although perhaps the front one can just be part of the display.

  2. ClickARM is an unfortunate name. I thought it’s a processor swapping technology developed by ARM for ARM processors.

  3. I don’t really need my camera to be modular, but I would really love a Windows tablet with a swappable storage, with Sata or PCI-e bus.

    Another aspect I would like to be modular is the side panel that contains all the connectors. I would like to have the option of replacing the edge with a variety of connectors. Most things like ethernet could be connected with a simple USB pinout.

    1. You could have one really high-end camera in the family, that anyone can use when they need. Or upgrade it if you’re not happy with the current one you have… Or get one with Infrared so you can see where there are air leaks in your home so you better manage your electricity bill…

      1. Actually, I’ve given it some more thought, and I do see one possibility that modular cameras could benefit me. It would allow manufacturers to offer a variety of lenses.

        I really dislike the wide-angle lenses that all phones have on their cameras. I would like one that is equivalent to a 50mm lens on a 35mm camera.

  4. I love the modular phone idea. It’s funny that desktop and laptop computers used to be more that way, with user-replaceable parts. Will we someday have fixable phones and unfixable larger computers?

    1. Well, part of the reason laptops are less and less like that is that they are getting smaller (and becoming more like mobile phones with less parts).

      1. PC manufacturers don’t want you upgrading and extending the life of their product with updated components because they don’t make said components, merely put them together in a shell which means when outdated you have to buy their latest creation = profit.

        1. Hp even makes the cleaning of the fan incredibly hard, thus making the laptop stay as hot as possible and dies sooner

          I prefer fan less now or build my own computer

Comments are closed.