14 DAY TRIAL // This week, Kickstarter saw the advent of an intriguing new project reminiscent of Google’s Project Ara. And while we are still waiting on Google to release its modular smartphone platform to the masses, we might take a moment to consider the RePhone by Speeed.
The RePhone is also a modular phone that is built from open source components. The core of the phone is supplied by the RePhone Core GSM + BLE module or by the RePhone Core 3G module which will provide a faster data connection without the added BLE support.
Apart from these two core modules adding cell connection, there are 8 more add-on modules from Seeed’s Xadow range - a 1.54-inch touch screen, a 5x7 LED board, NFC board and GPS board, an audio board, a basic sensor board, a GSM breakout board, and an Arduino-compatible microcontroller.
These modules can then be connected together using all sorts of solutions ranging from FPC ribbon cable to soldered wires and conductive thread, or just be breadboarded.
Get creative with RePhone
Furthermore, the makers of this Kickstarter project have developed library support far beyond Arduino and including Lua and Javascript, as well as a full SDK based on Eclipse for C/C++ developers and IFTTT support.
But all these components must fit somewhere, right? Speeed also offers the RePhone Create Kit, allowing users to paper craft in order to build and customize cases for the RePhone modules in all sort of shapes. Creative individuals will certainly love this feat to death.
What’s more, RePhone’s modules are also said to be compatible with Pebble Time and there’s a Strap Kit offered in the backer package sections.
Before the arrival of the iPhone, phone manufacturers used to experiment with device form factors, but this trend has slowly died down and few are willing to go beyond the square model pattern we all know so well.
However, RePhone challenges you to fit your modules anywhere, by inviting you to be the architect of your device.
The Kickstarer campaign was launched this week and it already has 777 backers and 36 days to go, so we’re pretty sure this modular platform project will be a success.
If you want to support the project, you too can pledge $12 / €11 or more in the hopes of one day seeing the RePhone become a reality.
