Phonebloks Wants Users To Build Their Own Smartphones

A proposed mobile phone platform that allows users to construct their ideal smartphone using Lego-like bricks called ‘bloks’ has attracted the support of more than 900,000 people.

Phonebloks is the brainchild of Dutch designer Dave Hakkens, who wants to make it easy for smartphone owners to repair or replace faulty or obsolete components and reverse the philosophy that mobile phones are disposable.

“The market of electronic devices is growing rapidly, but it feels like we are building disposable stuff. Every time we make something new we completely throw away the old one,” says Hakkens. “Imagine all the good displays, Bluetooths and speakers we have thrown away. I love the connected world that we live in and it’s time to set up a universal modular platform that companies work on together.”

Phonebloks support

Hakkens envisages that users would either purchase a pre-assembled handset or build their own by purchasing components from “an app store for hardware”, or ‘Blokstore’.

Big and small companies would be able to sell parts such as cameras, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi receivers, batteries and displays, alongside niche bloks from startups, like solar powered batteries or lightweight components. The store could even be used for larger devices like cameras or tablets, and subscription models could be used so that phones are gradually upgraded over time.

Phonebloks would not only reduce the amount of electrical waste caused by disposed mobile phones, but it would also ensure that accessories never become obsolete because users would just continually upgrade the same phone.

O2 estimates there are 100 million unused chargers in the UK, amounting to 18,700 tonnes of components, 124,274 miles of copper wire and plastic covering and the volume of landfill required if they were thrown away would be enough to fill four Olympic swimming pools.

Hakkens is calling on those interested to register their support on Thunderclap, a crowdsourcing platform similar to Kickstarter that does not require people to pledge money. At the time of writing, 960,238 people were backing Phonebloks, while Will.i.am has also voice his support of the project.

Hakkens explains that a crowdfunding campaign would be pointless, as Phonebloks is too large a project for just one company and requires a number of firms to work together. He doesn’t want to take control and has invited anyone who believes they can deliver the project to take the lead, although he would appreciate being notified as he has many ideas for the platform.

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