Phonebloks

Phonebloks
TypeModular smartphone
Form factorBar
Data inputsTouchscreen display
Websitephonebloks.com
An exploded view of the Phonebloks concept.
Dave Hakkens in 2017

Phonebloks is a modular smartphone concept created and designed by the Dutch designer Dave Hakkens in 2013, primarily to reduce electronic waste.[1] While Phonebloks is not the first attempt at modular design in a phone,[2][3] it is notable due to the extent of its modularity and the attention and support it has gained. By attaching individual third-party components (called "bloks") to a main board, a user would create a personalized smartphone. These bloks can be replaced at will to replace a broken blok, to upgrade an existing blok, or to expand the functionality of the phone into a specific direction. Bloks would be available in Blokstore, "an app store for hardware", where users could buy new and used bloks as well as sell back their old ones.[4]

There is no plan to actually produce the Phonebloks design as a commercial product.

  1. ^ McNicoll, Arion (19 September 2013). "Phonebloks: The smartphone for the rest of your life". CNN.com. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  2. ^ Oswald, Ed (7 February 2008). "Modu looks to make cell phones 'modular'". betanews. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  3. ^ US application 20110230178, Jones; Gregory G.; (Seattle, WA) ; Hanson; Lisa M.; (Issaquah, WA) ; Kleist; Thomas; (Redbourn, GB); Hanson; Lisa M & Kleist; Thomas, "Mobile Communication Device Having Multiple, Interchangeable Second Devices", published 2011-09-22, issued YYYY-MM-DD, assigned to Microsoft Corporation 
  4. ^ Hakkens, David. "Phonebloks: A Phone Worth Keeping (Idea)". Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.