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New modular phones available in October from USB flash drive innovator

7 February 2008 13:25 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 4 comments

A company in Isreal called Modu will be partnering with wireless carriers in three different countries to sell a new modular phone design. The phones will consist of a rudimentary phone meant to be used with "jackets" which provide additional functionality like text messaging and music playback.

The core phone unit essentially acts as a peripheral to add a mobile phone connection to the jackets, which will initially just provide standard features like text messaging and cameras. Universal Music Group is reportedly considering using Modu jackets to promote their artists, although no details of their plans are available at this time.

The initial model will be limited to using General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) for data transfer. GPRS is only capable of data transfer at speeds approximately equivalent to a dialup modem. A 3G version, which would be able to make use of the much faster High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology, is said to be in the works. According to Modu founder and CEO Dov Moran the 3G version will remain compatible with jackets for first generation phones.

Moran is better known as the inventor of the USB flash drive. He sold msystems, the company that sold his original flash drive, to SanDisk in 2006, before founding Modu.

Modu's phone core could also be docked in other devices. The company is currently in talks with GPS and car audio manufacturers, hoping to get support for their phone core in hardware from brands like Magellen and Blaupunkt.

The Modu phone will be available at the beginning of October from Cellcom Israel Ltd., Telecom Italia SpA in Italy, and OAA Vimpel Communications in Russia.

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Discuss this article!
ammad123 (Newbie) 7 February 2008 14:06
And the point of this is...? Beats me ?0_o [ + quote]
0ldskool (Junior Member) 28 February 2008 19:58
what do u mean? are you saying what is the point in inventing a new device? anyways this looks amazing and if it actually takes off could change the face of technology. it seems like evently it could even be used as a credit card. i really hope this takes off or maybe apple will join forces with them and make an iphone v2 that uses this idea i would love to only need 1 small device that be used to do anything and everything [ + quote]
0ldskool (Junior Member) 28 February 2008 20:04
what do u mean? are you saying what is the point in inventing a new device? anyways this looks amazing and if it actually takes off could change the face of technology. it seems like evently it could even be used as a credit card. i really hope this takes off or maybe apple will join forces with them and make an iphone v2 that uses this idea i would love to only need 1 small device that be used to do anything and everything [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 1 April 2008 5:28
*Originally posted by ammad123:* And the point of this is...? Beats me ?0_o ditto [ + quote]