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The Dream of Ara
Article

The Dream of Ara

Inside the Rise and Fall of the World’s Most Revolutionary Phone

Harrison Weber
Venture Beat, 2017
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Eye Opening

Recommendation

This behind-the-scenes history of the once-promising, interchangeable and sectional smartphone, Ara, chronicles the demise of a great idea that almost made it to market. Telling more than just a story about the development of a piece of innovative hardware, Venture Beat executive editor and tech journalist Harrison Weber constructs a cautionary tale of pass-the-baton leadership, marketing timing and corporate complexities. 

Summary

In 2013, Dave Hakkens posted a concept video about his idea for Phonebloks and the Internet lit up with enthusiasm. It was supposed to be a phone made up of “blocks” – each with different functions – that could be customized and changed at the will of the consumer. As it happened, Motorola had been working under the radar on a similar idea but was not yet ready to announce it to the world. Hakkens’s video changed Motorola’s plans, and within two days it announced Project Ara. Motorola intended Ara to be an affordable...

About the Author

Harrison Weber is a syndicated journalist and the executive editor of Venture Beat. He writes about technology. 

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