Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has announced that it is now able to offer the first version of the Project Ara Module Development Kits (MDKs) free of charge to developers. Project Ara was a project that Google got from Motorola during its time as the owner of the company before Google sold its controlling interest to Lenovo for $2.91 billion. As part of that deal, Google retained ownership of the Ara project with the intention of continuing to develop it.
The aim of Project Ara is to introduce a modular hardware platform that will allow consumers to decide what components they wish to have included in their modular smartphone. This will then enable consumers to create their own smartphone set up by using modules that are suitable for their actual needs. This is direct opposition to what the smartphone manufacturer decides it wants to include on that particular model of phone.
There is still a lot more development to be done before the technology will be available on a widespread basis to consumers but with the launch of the MDK there are signs that the project is now doing more than just sitting dormant in Mountain View. Not to mention, it could be viable sometime in the near future.
According to Google, the MDK 0.10 is a “very early version” but is designed primarily to give interested developers the chance to see where the project is currently at and to provide valuable feedback on what is available for them to see at this time. Google has said that there will be many more incremental MDKs to follow with the aim being to get to a complete and final MDK by the end of the year.
