Project Ara official news: new prototype and Ara Marketplace

by Giulio Minotti, Phonebloks

Google’s ATAP-team has on Google+ shown the main circuit board of the new Project Ara prototype, called Spiral 2. This new device will have the benefit of Toshiba building custom chips, leaving more free space available for the developer’s functions. The new prototype will also have improved electromagnetic couplings for the modules (Epm).

This Spiral 2 PCB (print circuit board) is just the beginning.

Google plans to give us a closer view of this new prototype at the second Project Ara Module Developers Conference in January (January 14 - Mountain View, CA / January 21 - Singapore). Both days conferences will be streamed on the official Project Ara website.

Great news also came from the development of the Ara modules Marketplace. Globant*, a Latin American software company, has revealed it has entered a partnership with Google ATAP to develop the new Ara Marketplace. Using this new service, users will be able to browse through modules available on the market and buy processors, memories, cameras and other modules that they may want. Just like the Google Play Store, the Ara Marketplace will feature user reviews of different modules and recommendations from early buyers.

The Ara module Marketplace will also have its own mobile app, developed by Two Toasters. Two Toasters is an acclaimed mobile product development agency that strategizes, designs, and develops native iOS and Android apps for partner companies (Regal Cinemas, Zumba, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lexus and others).

*Founded 11 years ago, Globant has worked with Google since 2006, they have more than 3,100 professionals working for companies like LinkedIn, JWT, Zynga, Electronic Arts, Coca-Cola and others.