Modu Mobile Phone Goes Modular

Every company wants to be able to say it has the thinnest, smallest, lightest phones in the world, but a new phone that's not even out yet, has been nominated as the lightest phone in the world by the Guinness World Records. Modu Mobile developed the first modular phone that weighs 1.5 ounces and measures 72mm x 37mm x 7.8mm. Reuters says it has a color screen, and a very limited keypad that allows it to work as a rudimentary standalone cell phone. But don't let that fool you, this phone will be big in style and functionality.

What's different about Modu phones are its interchangeable enclosures that transform it into a totally different device. To change the way it looks, you just pop it into a different Modu jacket, likely to be available in every color and design. To give it new functionality you just slide inside a Modu mate device, which will include things like media players, digital photo frames, digital cameras, GPS devices, and even cordless telephones. Modu is already talking to several U.S. companies about building slots for its device to give their devices network connectivity. This means GPS devices would be able to receive traffic updates, and car systems would use the phone to make phone calls or listen to music stored in the phone.

The company plans to release Modu in Russia, Italy, and Israel later this year, and is already working with big U.S companies like Blaupunkt, SanDisk, Texas Instruments, and Universal Music Group to bring the phone to the U.S. by 2009. I'm sure we'll hear more about Modu, so stay tuned.