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3D Systems and Motorola Team Up To Deliver Customizable 3D Printed Smartphones

Posted by Unknown on from the still-can't-get-one-with-a-keyboard dept.

MojoKid writes "Motorola is forging ahead with the concept of modular, customizable smartphones first put forth by designer Dave Hakkens with his Phonebloks concept. The company said recently that it was officially pursuing such an idea with Project Ara, and Motorola is already putting together important partnerships to make it happen. 3D Systems, a maker of 3D printers and other related products, has signed on to create a 'continuous high-speed 3D printing production platform and fulfillment system' for it. In other words, 3D Systems is going to print parts for the project, and what's more, the company has what appears to be an exclusive agreement to make all the enclosures and modules for Project Ara."

2 of 12 comments (clear)

  1. Hope it works... by mlts · · Score: 2

    I'm hoping that this concept can give phones that would be nice, but not intended for for the lowest common denominator. For example, it would be nice to have a decent landscape slider (the old Motorola Droid for example) with a quality hardware keyboard, and since sliders don't have to be extremely thin, this would allow for a better battery, higher resolution camera, or perhaps a decent amount of storage as well as a MicroSD card in an easy to insert place (so it would be easy to swap cards for nandroid backups.)

    Of course, unlocked bootloaders go without saying.

    1. Re:Hope it works... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 2

      Hope what works? This looks like it's going to be limited to a customized case (you can have all the funny little bumps and squiggles and colors you want). I don't see this as enabling a slide out keyboard on a phone that isn't designed for same. You just can't mix and match random bits of electronics - you have to pass CE / UI / FCC and bog-knows-who-else certifications. Unless the manufacturer wants to create a modular whatzit (which they can do at present but don't seem to be much interested in) you can't just add or subtract 3D printed functionality.

      Perhaps they're planning on small runs of semi custom phones, in which case 3D printing might be a useful technology, but I just don't see how this functionally (as opposed to cosmetically) changes things. Sandbenders anyone?

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!